LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Official Residences

Theresa May: To ask the Leader of the House what the address is of  (a) the offices and  (b) any official residences she is entitled to use in her capacity as a Minister.

Helen Goodman: The Private Office for the Leader of the House of Commons is currently based at 26 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2WH.
	No official residence has been allocated to the Minister.

PRIME MINISTER

Committee on Standards in Public Life

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the date was of the last day in office of the former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; for what reason his successor has not been announced; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: Rita Donaghy CBE took over as interim Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life with effect from 26 April 2007. The recruitment process for a permanent Chair is under way.

Poverty

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he plans to take to fight poverty in the next 12 months.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	For individuals and families, work is the best route out of poverty.
	Pathways to Work will be rolled out across Britain by April 2008 and this will support the introduction of the new Employment and Support Allowance later in 2008. Both of these measures will encourage and support incapacity benefit claimants into work.
	Furthermore, our Welfare Reform Green Paper "In work, better off" Cm7130, published on 18 July 2007, sets out how the Government aims to continue to move towards full employment, giving everyone the chance to work and contribute to society.
	Earlier this year DWP published Working for Children, our strategy for parental employment, and this year's Budget announced that the child element of child tax credit will rise by £150 from April 2008. This, along with a package of reforms to the personal tax and benefit system in Budget 2007, will help lift 200,000 children out of poverty by 2008-09. As part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review, DWP is working closely with HM Treasury, the Department for Families, Children and Schools, and other government departments on producing a child poverty Delivery Agreement.
	For pensioners, our strategy is to target help on the poorest pensioners, while providing a solid foundation of support for all. This approach has been successful but we are not complacent, and realise there is more to do to ensure that pensioners get the money they are entitled to by raising awareness and encouraging people to claim.
	We also intend to strengthen State Pensions as a credible foundation for private saving. The Pensions Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will make State Pensions more universal and more generous, and will include a commitment to uprate the Pension Credit Minimum Guarantee in line with earnings growth, locking in the gains made in combating poverty.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Democratic Republic of Congo

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the UK plans to provide to local civil society organisations working in the field of governance and democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gareth Thomas: The UK has an existing three-year £24 million community recovery programme in three provinces in DRC, which started in April 2007 and is being implemented by three international NGOs (the International Rescue Committee, the International Foundation for Care and Self-Help (IFESH) and CARE). The programme includes work on local governance and will support the creation of community level development committees that collectively plan and manage development projects such as re-building clinics, schools and bridges destroyed by fighting.
	DFID has established a central Governance and Transparency Fund which will commit up to £100 million to civil society organisations working in the area of governance and transparency. Overall, civil society organisations are developing nearly 300 projects and final selection will take place later this year. The DFID office in DRC has been active in encouraging civil society organisations based in DRC to apply to this fund.
	We are also working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a democracy and accountability programme of around £40 million. Through this programme UNDP will establish a mechanism to provide sustainable funding to a range of civil society organisations (local, international and faith-based) working on governance and democracy themes. We expect this to become operational in 2008.

Eritrea: Overseas Aid

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make UK aid and development funds for Eritrea conditional on the improvement of the observance of  (a) human rights and  (b) religious freedoms in that country in 2008.

Gareth Thomas: DFID does not have a development programme in Eritrea because it has not been possible to establish the basis for a development partnership with the Eritrean Government in light of human rights abuses and other problems. We do have a humanitarian programme targeted directly at those in need, which is channelled through international relief agencies.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Breastfeeding

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on initiatives to support women who are breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 5 July 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	I expect to discuss these issues within Government in the coming months.

Departments: Ministerial Red Boxes

John Hemming: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many ministerial red boxes were provided to her office in each of the last five years; what the cost of each was; who the suppliers were; and what tendering process was used in selecting them.

Harriet Harman: Minister for Women red boxes are purchased by the Department in which she is based and are therefore counted in the figures provided by those individual Departments.
	In the last five years the Minister for Women has been based in:
	May 2006 to June 2007: CLG
	2001 to 2005: DTI
	Cabinet Minister for Women based in DCMS from May 2004 to May 2005.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of Taliban leader Naim Atallah, allegedly responsible for the killing of Captain David Hicks of the 1(st) Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, who was captured by British Forces in Helmand Province in August.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Captain Hicks was killed when his patrol operating base located to the North East of Sangin, in Helmand Province, came under attack on 11 August 2007. The investigation into his death is continuing.
	Persons detained by British Forces are transferred to the Afghan Authorities. For reasons of operational security I am not prepared to comment in detail on individual cases.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Wimik land rovers issued to British forces in Afghanistan were written off in each of the last three years; how many were written off as a result of  (a) accidental damage or mechanical failure and  (b) enemy action; and how many written off as a result of enemy action were the subject of mine or improvised explosive device strikes.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Since the deployment of weapons-mounted installation kit Land Rover vehicles in summer 2006 to Afghanistan, a total of 19 have been lost as a result of operational use. Those losses have occurred either as a result of direct enemy action or denial operations by UK forces where vehicles have been extensively damaged (either through enemy action or accidents) and cannot be recovered.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Wimik land rovers were issued to British forces in Afghanistan in each of the last three years.

Des Browne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Weapon-Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) equipped Land Rovers were first deployed to Afghanistan in summer 2006. I am withholding the number of vehicles deployed as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Forces personnel in Afghanistan were  (a) seriously injured and  (b) killed while crewing Wimik land rovers as a result of (i) accidental damage or mechanical failure and (ii) enemy action in each of the last three years; and of those injured or killed by enemy action, in how many cases this was as a result of mine/IED strikes.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 : As of 10 September 2007, five personnel have been killed in WMIK Land Rovers since these were deployed to Afghanistan in summer 2006. Those deaths all occurred in incidents where the vehicle was involved in an explosion due to enemy action. Investigations are continuing into some incidents and it is not possible to say definitively in each case whether these were caused by mine or IED strikes. The number of service personnel injured in incidents involving WMIK Land Rovers is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Compensation

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the compensation paid to armed forces personnel injured in the line of duty; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme was introduced on 6 April 2005 and replaced arrangements under the War Pensions Scheme and Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) for those injuries, illnesses or deaths caused by Service after this date. It is a modern scheme and provides fair and simple arrangements, which focus help on the more severely disabled. For the first time, a tax-free lump sum is payable in-service to personnel to compensate for pain and suffering based on a range of tariffs graduated according to the seriousness of the condition. A tax-free inflation proof guaranteed income payment, payable for life, is also payable on discharge for those who suffer the more serious injuries. This has the potential to be worth many hundreds of thousands of pounds over the lifetime of the claimant.
	We continually monitor the scheme in order to ensure that we provide the best of care for our serving personnel and veterans. As a part of this monitoring process, and in light of recent operational experience I have commissioned a review that is looking at one aspect of the scheme, which is the rules relating to the compensation paid to those personnel who receive multiple injuries as a result of a single incident. I hope to be able to announce the outcome of the review shortly.

Armed Forces: Correspondence

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether regulations are in place governing communications from officers commanding military establishments to  (a) the hon. Member in whose constituency the establishment is located,  (b) other hon. Members and  (c) others.

Des Browne: The regulations in place that govern communications between Service personnel and any Member of Parliament are set out in the Queen's Regulations for each of the Services, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
	The instruction governing communication between all MOD personnel and the media, and for writing or speaking in public, was updated and reissued in August 2007 as a Defence Instructions and Notice (2007DIN03-006). This document is on the MOD website and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. Queen's Regulations are currently being revised to reflect the updated instruction.

Arms Trade: Channel Islands

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of military exports have been purchased by the Channel Islands in the last three years from the UK; and what the costs were of such purchases.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Information on the types of exports under licence and the total value of single individual export licences issued, including those for the Channel Islands, in each calendar year up to 2004, is included in the printed version of the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report. Thereafter the information is also provided in a CD-ROM that accompanies the Report, and at www.fco.gov.uk. Copies of the reports and the CD-ROMs are available in the Library of the House. Information is also available in the Government's Strategic Export Controls Quarterly Reports, also available from the FCO website.
	The Channel Islands are part of the UK's Customs and Statistical territories. As such, there is no requirement to record the value of items delivered under export licence to the Channel Islands.

Army Board

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many internal flights were taken by the  (a) Adjutant General,  (b) Chief of the General Staff,  (c) non-ministerial members of the Army Board and  (d) Assistant Chief of the General Staff in 2006; how many of those flights were with (i) military and (ii) commercial carriers; and what the cost was.

Derek Twigg: pursuant to the reply, 11 June 2007, Official Report, c. 752W
	I stated that the number of military flights taken by the Chief of the General Staff consisted of 26 RAF rotary and fixed wing and 35 Army rotary wing flights. These figures were incorrect and should have read as 23 RAF and 14 Army flights. The error occurred due to double counting.

Army: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises for  (a) active duty regular forces and  (b) the Territorial Army were suspended due to the recent foot and mouth outbreak; and what steps are being taken to reschedule those exercises.

Des Browne: There was one military training exercise only cancelled due to the recent foot and mouth outbreak and this was an Annual Personal Weapons Test for members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). It was not essential for this exercise to occur over this period and it has now been rescheduled for later this year.

Defence Export Services Organisation: UK Trade and Investment

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which  (a) defence companies and  (b) trade organisations he consulted before the decision was made to transfer the responsibilities of the Defence Export Services Organisation to UK Trade and Investment; and when they were notified of the intention to effect that transfer.

Des Browne: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The Prime Minister's decision to move responsibility for supporting defence exports from the Defence Export Services Organisation to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) was announced in a written statement to Parliament on the afternoon of 25 July. This was a Machinery of Government change and in such circumstances, it is not unusual for announcements to be made quickly and without prior discussion with those outside Government. However, the current and future Chairs of the National Defence Industries Council, Sir John Rose and Mr. Mike Turner, were informed by telephone that morning.
	MOD, UKTI and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform are engaging with the defence industry and trade associations as part of the process of developing an implementation plan.

Departments: Energy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department has in the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group.

Derek Twigg: The MOD did not play a role in the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (which no longer exists); however the MOD regularly consults across Government on energy security matters.

Falkland Islands: Armed Conflict

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the criteria to enable the South Atlantic Medal 1982 to be awarded to those who served on RMS St Helena in support of the UK Government; how many peopled served on the RMS St Helena during the Falklands War; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 12 September 2007
	RMS St. Helena, operating in company with the Royal Navy mine-sweepers HMS Brecon and HMS Ledbury, served in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands after hostilities had ceased on 14 June 1982.
	None of the three vessels accrued the necessary length of qualifying service to meet the eligibility criteria for the South Atlantic Medal 1982. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright MP) on 11 January 2007,  Official Report, column 711W, when I said that the eligibility criteria for the South Atlantic Medal 1982 were carefully and extensively considered at the time this medal was instituted. There are no plans to review these criteria.
	Available MOD records do not indicate how many Royal Navy personnel served on RMS St. Helena at the time of the Falklands war, but there were approximately 32 civilians.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi citizens have been trained at Sandhurst since 2003; how much the Government has spent on supporting the training of Iraqi officers at RMA Sandhurst; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Eight Iraqi officer cadets have attended, or are attending, training at Sandhurst since 2003. The Government have spent £360,795 on supporting their training, inclusive of flights to and from the UK and English language tuition. This initiative complements our wider training and mentoring efforts aimed at building the capability of Iraqi Security Forces, so that they are increasingly able to take responsibility for security in Iraq.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent and scale of ordnance, explosives and other weaponry used against UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 12 months which his Department believes to have originated in, or passed through, Iran.

Des Browne: There is evidence that armaments, in particular improvised explosive devices, that originate in Iran are being deployed against our troops in southern Iraq and in Afghanistan. We have made it clear that any Iranian links to illegal armed groups in Afghanistan and Iraq, either through supply of munitions, training or funding, is completely unacceptable.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition he uses of overwatch, as used to describe the role of British armed forces in Southern Iraq.

Des Browne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Overwatch is a term used by UK military planners in Multi-National Division South-East to describe the force posture by coalition forces within a given province in Iraq, in relation to the progressive transfer of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces.
	There are three phases of overwatch: tactical, operational and finally strategic. As each province passes through these phases, the division of responsibility between coalition and Iraqi security forces is adjusted to take account of the changing security situation and increasing capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces.
	In the UK's area of responsibility in Iraq, three of the four provinces (Al Muthanna, Dhi Qar, and Maysan) are currently in the operational overwatch phase. Security in the fourth province, Basra, will remain the responsibility of coalition forces until the conditions are appropriate to transfer responsibility to the Iraqi Security Forces.

Kenley Airfield

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost is of the proposed fence at Kenley Airfield, Croydon.

Des Browne: The expected cost of the proposed fence at Kenley Airfield, Croydon, the erection of which is subject to planning permission, is approximately £154,000 including VAT.

NATO: Pipelines

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the NATO Pipeline System; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The NATO Pipeline System was developed to ensure that NATO's requirements for petroleum products and their distribution could be met at all times. The system comprises 10 separate fuel storage and distribution systems with a total of 12,000 km of pipeline linking storage depots, air bases, civil airports, refineries and ingress points. Of these systems, two are multi-national systems and eight are national systems.
	One of the eight national systems, the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS), is owned by MOD and operated by the Oil and Pipelines Agency, a non-departmental public body. Although owned by MOD, the GPSS is a key element of the UK's critical national infrastructure. GPSS irreducible spare capacity is exploited for commercial use with military/commercial throughput split approximately 20:80. On the basis of commercial receipts, the MOD moves and stores its aviation fuel at no cost.

Territorial Army: Anniversaries

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding he intends to make available to  (a) regional and  (b) local organisations to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The events marking the centenary of the Territorial Army will be funded from a combination of public resources and suitable non-public donations and sponsorship. The planning of events is continuing and I will announce further details later this year.

Territorial Army: Anniversaries

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the projects being planned to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what budget has been allocated to celebrations to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: As outlined in my predecessor's written statement of 12 June 2007,  Official Report, column 41WS, the programme of events will start with a media launch to raise awareness of this key anniversary. The main national level event will take place on Horse Guards Parade and at St. James' Palace on Saturday 21 June 2008. Further major events will be occurring between May to September next year around the country and are anticipated to include a commemorative service in St. Paul's Cathedral and primary events in regional capitals.
	National events are further being supported by a range of regional and local activities, with a broad emphasis on TA veterans and members of the TA currently deployed on operations. The final programme is currently in the latter stages of development and the broad outline of this will be available in the early autumn.
	The majority of TA100 activities around the country will be in conjunction with existing, planned representational or Army-in-Society events, which will be re-profiled or enhanced, if necessary, for the purposes of this milestone occasion thus minimising costs.
	A substantial proportion of the cost of the celebrations will be met from corporate and private donations. The publicly funded element which has yet to be finally determined will be drawn in part from the Department's central commemorations team and in part from allocations. TA manpower to support the events will be resourced from allocated man training days. There will be no impact on operations, preparing for operations or core training.

Type 45 Destroyers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what economies of scale he estimates could be made, per warship, if a flotilla of  (a) six,  (b) seven and  (c) eight Type 45 Destroyers were to be built.

Des Browne: holding answer 25 July 2007
	The data to make accurate comparative calculations over Type 45 Destroyer fleet sizes are not available. However, value-for-money will be one of many considerations in the decision on future Type 45 orders.

Woolwich Barracks

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Woolwich barracks.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 12 September 2007
	My predecessor announced in September 2005 that Woolwich Barracks would be retained and would become the future home for Public Duties Incremental Companies, their supporting elements from Chelsea and an infantry battalion from Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow.
	The work on the redevelopment of Woolwich Barracks to accommodate these units is expected to start within the next few months following recent planning approval.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Responsibilities

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which responsibilities of the former  (a) Department for Education and Skills and  (b) Department of Trade and Industry his Department holds; whether responsibilities have been transferred to his Department from any other Department; and for which (i) agencies and (ii) other bodies his Department is responsible for.

David Lammy: All of these details are contained in the Machinery of Government statement of the 29 June which has been placed in the House Library.

Departments: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by his Department.

David Lammy: At present, DIUS has a staff of four permanent press officers. Currently we are using nine additional press officers supplied through the Central Office of Information.

Departments: Marketing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on what date a sign for his Department's headquarters was commissioned.

David Lammy: Interim signage for the Department using an interim logo was commissioned on 27 June so that it was available for use in departmental buildings on 28 June. The Department's logo was then commissioned on 27 June.

Departments: Postal Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what volume of correspondence his Department sent  (a) by Royal Mail and  (b) by other commercial delivery services in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for the use of other commercial delivery services.

David Lammy: The information requested has been included as part of the response given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 1712-13W.

Departments: Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned over the last 12 months for policy areas now within his Department's responsibility;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned in areas by his Department and other Government Departments now within his Department's responsibility in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created on 28 June. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1713W and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 17 July 2007,  Official Report , column 279W.

Further Education: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the further education provision available for post 16-year-olds within the Leeds, West constituency.

David Lammy: The Department does not hold details of all the publicly funded post-16 provision at local or regional levels. I am therefore copying this to Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive so that he can respond with the information you have requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 14 September 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question which asked the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to list the further education provision available for post 16 year olds specifically within the Leeds West Constituency.
	The 05/06 data shows well over 6,000 Leeds West residents are currently in LSC funded FE learning provision, with about a fifth of these being aged 16-18. The vast majority of these are with Leeds based providers.
	However, although there are a number of FE learning centres on the periphery of Leeds West, there is no locally based provision in the constituency.
	Leeds West borders the Leeds city area to the east, where most provision is found, and Horsforth to the North West, where some Park Lane College provision is available.

Higher Education: Admissions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students his Department has estimated will enrol in courses at higher education institutions in each academic year up to 2009-10.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 Current projections show the numbers of students rising from 1,508,000 in 2006/07 to 1,554,000 in 2007/08.
	The following table shows recent years' outturn figures.
	
		
			  Academic year  Total full-time equivalent students 
			 2001/02 1,320,000 
			 2002/03 1,380,000 
			 2003/04 1,425,000 
			 2004/05 1,449,000 
			 2005/06 1,480,000 
		
	
	These figures are on a full-time equivalent basis, and cover all (UK, EU and overseas domiciled) students, studying at higher education institutions (HEIs) and further education colleges (FECs) in England.
	Estimates of likely numbers of students beyond 2007/08 have not yet been made, and will depend on the final settlement of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.

Higher Education: Overseas Trade

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether the United Kingdom is a net importer or exporter of higher education.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The British Council published a report(1) earlier this month indicating that the value of UK education and training exports was estimated to be in the region of £28 billion a year. We do not know what the value of education imports might be and have no way of calculating it. However, given that the numbers of international students who come to the UK to study greatly exceeds the numbers of UK students studying abroad, the UK is considered to be a net exporter of higher education.
	(1) "The value of UK education and training exports: an update" Dr. Pamela Lenton, University of Sheffield, September 2007.

Higher Education: Radioactive Materials

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what advice the Government have given to universities and education research facilities on the storage of radiological materials.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	If an organisation in England and Wales wishes to use radioactive substances on its premises, it will be regulated by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Health and Safety Executive under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
	Responsibility for storage facilities rests primarily with the user organisation itself. Regulatory guidance on radioactive substances, including storage, is provided by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive.
	The Environment Agency also chairs a small users liaison group, which includes a number of professional bodies such as the Association of University Radiation Protection Officers. This provides a direct link to the Environment Agency in allowing for the dissemination of information and advice, and providing an opportunity for non-nuclear users of radioactive substances to seek regulatory guidance.

Learning and Skills

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 856W, on Learning and Skills, when he expects the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to publish data on the destinations of learners after completion of their LSC-funded programmes for the period 2002 to 2006.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to my letter dated June 2007, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Students: Fees and Charges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his recent announcement on graduate loan repayments applies to both maintenance and tuition fee loans; and what the projected cost is of the initiative.

Bill Rammell: The recent announcement on giving graduates the choice of a repayment break of up to five years applies to both maintenance and tuition fee loans.
	From the 2008/09 academic year, a student who is a new entrant to higher education and eligible for a maintenance loan or fee loan will be entitled to take a repayment break of up to five years. It is projected that giving graduates a choice of a repayment break in resource terms will cost of around £165 million in 2010-11 in steady state.

Students: Science

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of how many and what percentage of  (a) female and  (b) male (i) physics, (ii) chemistry, (iii) biochemistry, (iv) psychology and (v) sports science students went into (A) UK graduate level employment, (B) UK non-graduate level employment, (C) employment overseas, (D) a combination of employment and study and (E) further study in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of how many and what percentage of  (a) female and  (b) male students went into (i) UK graduate level employment, (ii) UK non-graduate level employment, (iii) employment overseas, (iv) a combination of employment and study and (v) further study in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The available information on full-time graduates is given in tables which have been placed in the Library. The figures have been taken from the higher education leavers survey which is carried out annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Up to and including 2001-02 this was the First Destination Supplement (FDS). From 2002/03, this was replaced by a new survey called the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DHLE). In addition to this, a new classification for recording subject of study was introduced in 2002-03. Hence, figures from 2003/03 onwards are not comparable to earlier years.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were prosecuted for the non-payment of council tax, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) ethnicity of the defendant in each of the last five years for which records are available; and how much in council tax arrears was written off by local authorities over the same period.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government does not collect information on the number of taxpayers against whom billing authorities take enforcement action for non-payment of council tax.
	Communities and Local Government does not have an estimate available on the amount of council tax arrears written off by local authorities.

Council Tax: Greater London

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the ratio between central Government funding and council tax revenue was for  (a) all London boroughs and  (b) each London borough in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The ratio between central Government funding and council tax revenue for London boroughs over the last 10 years is shown in the following table.
	Central Government funding is defined here as the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant, police grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services. In past years, where applicable, the SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection Grant have also been included.
	Council tax revenue is defined here as the local authority council tax requirement (i.e. the council tax used to finance revenue expenditure), not council tax collected.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities and changes in funding and function.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	
		
			  Ratio between central Government funding and council tax revenue for London boroughs, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-0 6  2006-07( 1) 
			 London boroughs 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.8 
			 London boroughs plus City of London 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.8 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4.3 4.5 4.8 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.0 5.0 6.1 
			 Barnet 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.3 
			 Bexley 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.8 
			 Brent 5.1 5.1 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.4 
			 Bromley 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3 
			 Camden 3.4 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.5 
			 City of London 63.4 50.5 46.7 43.8 40.0 41.0 38.8 35.3 31.8 28.8 
			 Croydon 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 
			 Ealing 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.1 3.0 
			 Enfield 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.7 
			 Greenwich 4.0 3.8 4.2 4.6 4.8 4.8 5.0 5.0 5.4 5.3 
			 Hackney 6.0 5.9 6.2 6.1 8.5 7.5 6.8 6.4 6.5 6.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.4 
			 Haringey 3.4 3.7 3.8 4.3 4.6 4.7 4.4 4.2 4.0 4.0 
			 Harrow 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 
			 Havering 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 
			 Hillingdon 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 3.0 2.9 
			 Hounslow 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9 
			 Islington 3.6 3.7 4.1 4.7 5.1 5.5 5.1 4.7 4.5 4.9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 
			 Lambeth 5.3 5.6 6.0 6.3 5.7 5.6 5.0 5.0 4.9 5.2 
			 Lewisham 4.9 5.1 5.0 5.0 4.7 4.4 4.9 5.1 4.8 4.8 
			 Merton 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.6 
			 Newham 7.5 7.9 8.2 8.2 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.0 8.3 8.2 
			 Redbridge 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 Southwark 4.5 4.5 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.4 6.2 6.3 6.6 6.2 
			 Sutton 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 8.5 8.8 8.9 8.7 8.2 8.4 8.1 8.1 8.2 8.2 
			 Waltham Forest 3.4 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.5 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.0 
			 Wandsworth 6.2 9.4 8.0 8.1 7.2 9.8 7.0 7.1 7.3 7.6 
			 Westminster 10.0 9.2 8.8 8.8 8.1 8.1 7.2 6.5 6.8 6.9 
			 (1) Based on provisional outturn figures.  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns—RS data.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have been appointed to her Department outside civil service grades in the last 30 days.

Iain Wright: In the 30 days to the tabling of this question on 25 July, no staff were appointed outside civil service grades to the central part of the Department for Communities and Local Government, that is excluding the Departments sponsor bodies and executive agencies.

Devolution: Rural Areas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of  (a) the merits of devolution outside the city regions and  (b) Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly's suitability for devolved powers.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government's approach was set out in the Local Government White Paper published on 26 October 2006 and in the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration published on 17 July 2007. The review builds on the White Paper by proposing increased powers and stronger incentives for all local authorities, including those in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, to improve the prosperity of their communities.

Empty Property

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in  (a) private and  (b) public ownership were empty for more than six months in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  As at 1 April  each year  Private (including RSLs)( 1,)( )( 2)  Public (local authority only)( 3) 
			 1997 245,227 33,529 
			 1998 233,237 26,645 
			 1999 227,921 28,730 
			 2000 296,053 33,126 
			 2001 329,874 31,411 
			 2002 327,677 30,892 
			 2003 332,145 23,925 
			 2004 320,650 20,670 
			 2005 306,960 17,840 
			 2006 306,788 16,028 
			 (1) Private vacancies (over six months) reported through the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA). (2) Registered social landlord long-term vacancies are based on a proxy measure—"RSL vacants not available for rent" as reported through the Regulatory Statistical Return. (3) Local authority vacancies (over six months) reported through the HSSA up to 2004-05 and from the Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) for 2005-06. 
		
	
	Figures for the private and local authority tenures are presented for those dwellings empty for more than six months as reported by local authorities. Figures for registered social landlord vacancies are based on numbers of vacancies not available for rent.

Energy: Conservation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it a requirement for local authorities to publish an annual report listing the  (a) new and  (b) existing buildings in their area which in the previous 12 months have installed energy (i) reducing and (ii) producing measures; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government have no plans to introduce a requirement for local authorities to produce such an annual report. However Communities and Local Government has published a report (as it is required to do every two years under the Sustainable and Secure Building Act 2004) which covers, among other things, the overall changes in the efficiency with which energy is used in buildings, and the extent to which such buildings have their own facilities for generating energy:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningand building/monitoringsustainability.
	Additionally, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been seeking views on its proposals for an indicator for the post-2008 local government performance framework to measure percentage reductions in per capita CO2 emissions in the local area. The calculation of the proposed indicator includes emissions from the majority of buildings in the area:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/index.htm.
	The indicators to be included in the post-2008 local government performance framework will be published alongside the comprehensive spending review later this autumn.

Fire Services

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions have taken place with fire brigades on the implications for fire and rescue services of the changes in the requirements for vehicle signage in the UK following conclusion of the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail.

Parmjit Dhanda: No such discussions have taken place with specific fire brigades, but discussions have taken place with the Chief Fire Officers Association, which is the professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service. No changes in vehicle signage are currently planned for the carriage of dangerous goods within the UK.

Fire Services: Manpower

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many part-time and full-time firefighters there were in  (a) England,  (b) Northamptonshire and  (c) Wellingborough in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of part-time and full-time firelighters(1) in England in each year since 1997 was as follows. Information on the number of firelighters at the constituency level is not available:
	(1) Number of uniformed personnel
	
		
			  As at 31 March  Retained (part-time)  Whole - time (full-time) 
			 1997 13,016 32,033 
			 1998 12,847 31,855 
			 1999 13,022 31,918 
			 2000 13,021 31,616 
			 2001 13,097 31,597 
			 2002 13,013 31,592 
			 2003 13,044 31,614 
			 2004 13,015 31,856 
			 2005 13,543 31,051 
			 2006 13,927 30,744 
		
	
	The number of part-time and full-time firelighters(1) in Northamptonshire in each year since 1997 was as follows:
	(1) Number of uniformed personnel
	
		
			  As at 31 March  Retained (part-time)  Whole - time (full-time) 
			 1997 221 286 
			 1998 226 294 
			 1999 221 293 
			 2000 221 296 
			 2001 221 296 
			 2002 242 292 
			 2003 228 307 
			 2004 220 311 
			 2005 237 302 
			 2006 229 288 
			  Source:  ODPM annual returns

Flood Control

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Government's Foresight report on future flood risk.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	Copies of Foresight reports are routinely placed in both Libraries in the Houses of Parliament. I have however arranged for an additional copy of the Government's Foresight report on future flood risk to be placed in the Library.

Floods: EU Grants and Loans

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress the Government have made in securing funds from the EU Solidarity Fund in relation to the summer 2007 floods.

Parmjit Dhanda: An application for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund was lodged with the European Commission on 20 August 2007 and we continue to liaise closely with the Commission on this issue.

Floods: Gloucestershire

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial assistance has been given to  (a) Cheltenham and  (b) Gloucestershire in relation to this summer's serious floods; which organisations received money; and what the money was intended to pay for.

Parmjit Dhanda: In total £2,623,000 in Flood Recovery Grant, paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government to support flood affected communities, has been awarded to the councils within Gloucestershire. The details of these payments are set out as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Council  Original FRG round 1 — 12 July 2007  Original FRG  round 2— 20 July 2007  Extended FRG round  1— 16 August 2007  Extended FRG round 2 — 23 August 2007  Total 
			 Forest of Dean District Council 0 0 20,000 3,000 23,000 
			 Stroud District Council 0 0 50,000 10,000 60,000 
			 Tewkesbury Borough Council 0 0 600,000 23,500 623,500 
			 Cotswold District Council 0 0 600,000 23,500 623,500 
			 Gloucester City Council 20,000 3,000 600,000 23,500 646,500 
			 Cheltenham Borough Council 20,000 3,000 600,000 23,500 646,500 
			 Total 40,000 6,000 2,470,000 107,000 2,623,000 
		
	
	Local authorities have flexibility to decide how to best to use the grant based on their own local circumstances. In practice, this has included:
	Support payments to flood affected households;
	Purchase and provision to flood affected households of new household items (e.g. fridges, cookers, washing machines);
	Provision of temporary caravans to allow people to remain within their communities while houses are repaired; and
	Other priorities set through consultation with flood-affected householders and communities.
	Gloucestershire county council was allocated £1,007,900 from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). None of the other local authorities within Gloucestershire provide education or children's services and thus were not eligible for this funding.
	The Department for Transport has £3 million available to support longer term infrastructure costs in flood affected areas. There are on-going discussions with Gloucestershire county council about this resource.
	The following are more general support that residents and businesses in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire can access:
	The regional development agency with responsibility for Cheltenham and Gloucestershire has a £2 million flooding recovery package for the region and eligible businesses are able to claim up to a maximum of £2,500.
	Department for Work and Pensions is helping people on income related benefits or the lowest of incomes affected by the flooding with essential costs through Community Care Grants and repayable interest-free Crisis Loans.
	Also, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have made £1 million available to promote rural destinations and visitor attractions in flood affected areas.

Floods: Temporary Accommodation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are  (a) still living and  (b) have lived in emergency accommodation as a result of the summer 2007 floods, broken down by (i) county and (ii) type of accommodation.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not available in a comprehensive format centrally.
	Information in respect of the housing situation is provided on a weekly basis on situation update forms by the Government offices for the regions based on information supplied to them by local authorities and other organisations.
	The situation update forms do not include a detailed breakdown of all households who were or are living in temporary accommodation or the type of accommodation and may not include information where displaced households have made private arrangements.

Housing: Sales

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the proportion of homes sold through property location agents.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing: South West Region

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what housing targets have been set for  (a) Bournemouth,  (b) Dorset and  (c) the South West.

Parmjit Dhanda: The draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy, which recently completed its examination in public, states a range for 2006-26 of  (a) between 680 and 780 dwellings per annum for Bournemouth  (b) between 1,925 and 2,780 dwellings per annum for Dorset and  (c) between 22,895 and 23,060 dwellings per annum for the South West.

Mortgages: Insurance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the take-up rate was of mortgage payment protection insurance by new homebuyers in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The take-up rate of mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI) for new mortgages is given in the following table. These figures are published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders in table PP12 on their website at:
	http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/statistics.
	
		
			 Percentage of new mortgages with MPPI sold or provided  for free, UK 
			   Percentage of all new mortgages with MPPI 
			 2000 34 
			 2001 33 
			 2002 35 
			 2003 33 
			 2004 27 
			 2005 25 
			 2006 22 
			  Source: CML Research, Association of British Insurers

Planning: Appeals

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning decisions were appealed against in each year since 1996; and how many such appeals were successful.

Parmjit Dhanda: Data held by the Planning Inspectorate are not reliable prior to April 2000. The following table shows the number of planning appeals  (a) received  (b) decided and  (c) allowed (successful) in each calendar year from 2000 to 2007—where data for January to June has been supplied.
	
		
			   (a) Number of appeals received  (b) Number of appeals decided  (c) Number of appeals allowed 
			 2000 15,754 13,260 4,658 
			 2001 16,413 14,044 5,025 
			 2002 18,273 13,816 5,111 
			 2003 20,593 18,056 6,018 
			 2004 25,136 16,504 5,412 
			 2005 20,765 22,362 7,208 
			 2006 23,054 19,827 6,574 
			 2007 (January to June) 11,335 10,055 3,516

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Baggage

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to seek an increase in the baggage liability limitations applicable to airline passengers; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None. It is mishandling of baggage that attracts complaints rather than the amount of compensation payable in redress. Baggage liabilities are governed by the 1999 Montreal Convention which came into force for the UK in June 2004. Revisiting the Convention would require international support. As this is a recent international instrument and remains to be ratified in many countries this is unlikely to be realistic in the short term.

Bus Services

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the  (a) total and  (b) average per person use of (i) bus and (ii) light rail in (A) England and (B) each region changed between (1) 2000, (2) 1995, (3) 1990, (4) 1980 and (5) 1970 and the latest year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The following tables show patronage figures, by region, for bus and light rail, for each of the financial years 1990-91, 1995-96, 2000-01 and 2005-06. Data disaggregated by region or country of Great Britain are not available for years prior to 1985-86.
	
		
			  Total bus patronage 
			  M illions of boardings 
			   1990-01  1995-06  2000-01  2005-06 
			 North East 376 284 249 207 
			 North West 691 596 506 500 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 544 454 397 366 
			 East Midlands 247 217 216 201 
			 West Midlands 517 470 459 405 
			 East of England 173 160 183 161 
			 Greater London 1,166 1,193 1,347 1,810 
			 South East 299 278 297 293 
			 Southwest 215 201 188 181 
			 All England 4,227 3,853 3,842 4,125 
		
	
	
		
			  Total Light Rail patronage 
			  M illions of boardings 
			   1990-01  1995-06  2000-01  2005-06 
			 North East 44 36 33 36 
			 North West 6 17 21 24 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber — 5 11 13 
			 East Midlands — — — 10 
			 West Midlands — — 5 5 
			 East of England — — — — 
			 Greater London 8 14 53 74 
			 South East — — — — 
			 South West — — — — 
			 All England 57 73 124 162 
		
	
	
		
			  Bus boardings per person per year 
			   1990-01  1995-06  2000-01  2005-06 
			 North East 145 110 98 81 
			 North West 101 87 75 73 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 111 92 80 72 
			 East Midlands 62 53 52 47 
			 West Midlands 99 89 87 75 
			 East of England 34 31 34 29 
			 Greater London 172 173 186 241 
			 South East 39 36 37 36 
			 South West 46 42 38 36 
			 All England 89 80 78 82 
		
	
	
		
			  Light rail boardings per person per year 
			   1990-01  1995-06  2000-01  2005-06 
			 North East 17 14 13 14 
			 North West 1 3 3 3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber — 1 2 3 
			 East Midlands — — — 3 
			 West Midlands — — 1 2 
			 East of England — — — 1 
			 Greater London 1 2 7 — 
			 South East — — — 10— 
			 South West — — — — 
			 All England 1 2 3 3

Departments: Customer Services

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much revenue each of her Department's executive agencies received from customer services calls in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much was  (a) spent on and  (b) recouped by the customer services departments of each of her Department's executive agencies in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Where the Department's executive agencies have a separate and distinct customer services department or enquiry unit, the costs incurred and income recouped over the last five years is shown in the following tables. Income recouped is interpreted as meaning revenue received from customer service calls.
	
		
			  Revenue 
			  £ 
			   DVLA  DSA  VOSA 
			 2002-03 585,077 (1)— 0 
			 2003-04 384,754 (1)— 0 
			 2004-05 1,309,208 (1)— 10,386 
			 2005-06 3,021,010 (1)— 63,407 
			 2006-07 3,884,413 (1)— 72,397 
			 (1) DSA has not recouped any money from its customer services calls 
		
	
	The amount of revenue share has grown through this period in line with increased call volumes, and the increase in the amount of revenue share provided by telecoms suppliers.
	In line with the David Varney recommendations DfT intends to migrate its major service numbers to the new 0300 number range, dedicated to the Government and not-for-profit sector, as soon as they are available later this year. This will cease any revenue share arrangements and customers will pay no more than they pay for calls to 01 or 02 numbers.
	
		
			  Costs 
			  £ 
			   DVLA  DSA  VOSA 
			 2002-03 10,704,277 325,000 (1)— 
			 2003-04 15,081,330 428,000 (1)— 
			 2004-05 15,791,841 1,066,000 (1)— 
			 2005-06 15,706,096 573,000 (1)— 
			 2006-07 18,334,446 644,000 (1)— 
			 (1) VOSA does not hold separate data on costs of its Enquiry Unit

Departments: Gateway Reviews

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of gateway reviews returned (a) red, (b) amber and (c) green colour coding in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is provided in the following table. To clarify, Gateway reviews assign a 'red', 'amber' or 'green' status on the basis of how quickly a recommendation should be actioned before moving into the next project phase. They do not measure a project's status or likelihood of success.
	
		
			  Report colour code  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  Total  Total percentage 
			 Red 0 6 23 29 36 26 120 41.8 
			 Amber 5 14 36 34 26 15 130 45.3 
			 Green 3 3 12 10 6 3 37 12.9 
			 Total 8 23 71 73 68 44 287 100 
			  
			  Percentage breakdown 
			 Red 0 26 32 49 53 59 42  
			 Amber 63 61 51 47 38 34 45  
			 Green 38 13 17 14 9 7 13

Departments: Gateway Reviews

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent in total on Gateway reviews in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Prior to April of this year there were no direct charges for Gateway reviews. The Office of Government Commerce did introduce a payment scheme for reviews at the beginning of this financial year; however, the Department has yet to make any payments under this mechanism.
	Other costs have been incurred by the involvement of external consultants in a small number of reviews; however, these ad hoc and infrequent charges are not recorded centrally.
	Finally, there are also costs involved in the administration of reviews by departmental staff; however, because this varies significantly with the type of review being conducted, this could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Gateway Reviews

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the cost of a gateway review is met by  (a) her Department,  (b) the budget for the project into which the review has been commissioned and  (c) the companies contracted in to carry out the work on the project.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department supports the philosophy that Gateway reviews should be free at the point of delivery. All costs associated with a review are met from the Department's budget as part of its corporate assurance and governance processes.
	In a small number of cases a project has specifically requested the involvement of an external consultant. The cost of consultants has been included in the project itself.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of the unitary payments of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by her Department over the lifetime of the contract, expressed in constant 2007-08 prices, and discounted to present value.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The HM Treasury website provides updated details (on a six monthly basis) of unitary payments on PFI projects overseen by the Department for Transport. These were most recently updated in July 2007, with unitary charge payment projections extending until 2033-34. This information is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private _partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm .
	Unitary charge payments should be expressed in 2007-08 prices. An appropriate inflation rate to use to express payments in 2007-08 prices is 2.8 per cent. This is HM Treasury's projection for RPI inflation consistent with CPI inflation remaining at its 2 per cent. target. The first year corrected for inflation should be 2008-09.
	Unitary charge payments are projections covering more than the repayment of the capital value of a project and are conditional on the performance of the private sector contractor. The unitary charge payments often cover maintenance, cleaning and other services.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the Heathrow project board meeting note of 16 April 2007, item 8, what comments were received from BAA for inclusion in the public consultation document on expanding Heathrow airport; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 September 2007
	It is Government policy to work with BAA and other relevant bodies to see whether the further development of Heathrow is possible within strict environmental limits. It would be impossible to assess the viability of the further growth of Heathrow without the input of the airport operator. We expect to be consulting publicly later this year and for the reasons already explained in correspondence with the hon. Member, we do not believe it is in the public interest to release information on draft documents ahead of that consultation.

Lorry Drivers: Foreigners

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign vehicles were inspected at the roadside in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; how many were served with an immediate prohibition; how many of these prohibitions related to drivers' hours; what the countries of origins were of these drivers; and how many prosecutions followed these roadside stops.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The relevant statistics relating to the Department's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) are:
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  (to  date) 
			 Roadworthiness inspections 15,183 31,321 
			 Traffic offence inspections 18,251 27,449 
		
	
	Foreign vehicles issued with an immediate prohibition were:
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07 (to  date) 
			 Roadworthiness 5,442 13,348 
			 Drivers hours 4,433 6,443 
			 Overloading 1,436 2,631 
		
	
	VOSA does not record the nationality of drivers. There were no prosecutions for these specific offences because it is not possible—either for VOSA or the police—to require non-UK residents to return to the UK to attend court on such matters. The introduction of graduated fixed penalties and deposits next year will, however, ensure that they do pay the relevant penalty.
	The police do have the power of arrest and use it to deal with serious offences. We do not have any statistics relating to enforcement action taken by the police. Such statistics as may be available relating to the prosecution of foreign nationals would be held by the Ministry of Justice.

M25

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the M25 widening project at the most recent date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 A total of £57 million has been spent on the M25 widening project up to and including 31 July 2007.

M25

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the M25 widening projects are  (a) on schedule and  (b) late.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 Construction of M25 junction 1b-3 (section 3) started in June 2007 and is currently expected to complete ahead of schedule in summer 2008.
	The remaining four sections were included in the Design Build Finance and Operate contract which is on schedule to be awarded at the end of 2008.
	The actual dates for the improvements will be determined by the successful contractor and all four sections are expected to complete by 2016 subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory processes.

Railways: Death

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of the public lost their lives on the railway in the last three years; and how many deaths  (a) occurred on Network Rail's Western Route and  (b) are (i) suspected to be and (ii) confirmed as the result of suicide.

Tom Harris: This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at:
	British Transport Police
	25 Camden Road
	London
	NW1 9LN
	E-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk

Road Traffic

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) motor vehicles,  (b) cars and taxis,  (c) motorcycles,  (d) buses and coaches,  (e) light vans,  (f) other goods vehicles and  (g) pedal cycles there were on the roads in each region of the UK in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The data available from the DVLA vehicle register (which does not include pedal cycles) are shown in the tables which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The tables show the number of licensed vehicles, registered to keepers residing in each Government Office Region in Great Britain, over the last five years.
	The totals include vehicles where the region of residence of the registered keeper cannot be identified.

Roads: Accidents

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic accidents there were involving  (a) buses,  (b) pedestrians and  (c) cyclists in (i) Cheltenham constituency and (ii) other Gloucestershire constituencies in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one  (a) bus,  (b) pedestrian casualty and  (c) pedal cyclist in the Cheltenham constituency and the other five constituencies in Gloucestershire from 2002 to 2006 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
			  Accidents involving  Cheltenham  Cotswold  Forest of Dean  Gloucester  Stroud  Tewkesbury 
			  2002   
			 Bus 11 2 3 28 4 5 
			 Pedestrian casualty 58 30 19 75 38 22 
			 Pedal cycle 56 22 12 56 25 29 
			  2003   
			 Bus 6 4 7 22 8 6 
			 Pedestrian casualty 51 23 25 78 37 36 
			 Pedal cycle 40 20 10 74 15 25 
			  2004   
			 Bus 13 2 4 12 4 7 
			 Pedestrian casualty 50 22 30 70 45 32 
			 Pedal cycle 51 8 6 69 29 26 
			  2005   
			 Bus 4 7 6 11 8 5 
			 Pedestrian casualty 47 30 31 62 35 21 
			 Pedal cycle 49 16 12 70 31 34 
			  2006   
			 Bus 7 1 3 13 3 3 
			 Pedestrian casualty 42 22 22 40 42 23 
			 Pedal cycle 43 12 15 59 20 21

Roads: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations she has held since taking office on motorway widening schemes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 Since June the Highways Agency has undertaken public consultation on two motorway widening schemes, M25 widening junction 16-23, and A453 widening (M1 junction 24 to A52 Nottingham).

Taxis: Licensing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the effect on costs to local authorities of the abolition by the Road Safety Act 2006 of the exemption from the private hire taxi licensing regime for vehicles hired on a long-term basis.

Rosie Winterton: The inclusion in the Road Safety Act 2006 of the repeal of the exemption from private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing requirements of contracts lasting for a period of not less than seven days was motivated by the paramount need to ensure the safety of those being carried under contracts for the hire of a PHV.
	PHV licence fees are set by local licensing authorities and vary widely from area to area. Making reasonable assumptions about the total numbers of currently unlicensed drivers, vehicles and operators likely to be involved, and about average licence fees, we estimate that the total cost across all those sectors using PHV contracts will be about £1 million. We have not made a separate estimate of costs likely to be borne by local authorities.
	It should be noted that many contracts will already be carried out by drivers, vehicles and operators that are already licensed or to whom the contact exemption did not apply. Furthermore, the proportion of licensing costs which will be passed on to those awarding contracts will depend on contracts terms in each case.

Transport: Hazardous Substances

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to replace vehicle signage compliant with the United Kingdom Hazard Information System with vehicle signage compliant with the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The emergency services expressed clear views of the advantages given by the Emergency Action Codes (EACs) over Hazard Identification Numbers (HINs) in the first few minutes of responding to an incident involving dangerous goods when HSE consulted on this issue for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004. It is proposed to consult on the continued use of EACs in the development of the 2011 revision of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods regulations. We are not required to replace the EAC codes as EC Directives permit member states to maintain existing national provisions.

Transport: Wellingborough

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve transport infrastructure in Wellingborough under the South Midlands and Milton Keynes spatial strategy; and if she will list the projects to be undertaken and their  (a) start and  (b) completion dates.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The principles of infrastructure delivery, as set out in the North Northamptonshire core spatial strategy, will be considered at the independent public examination which is due to commence on 23 October.
	During the next few months, Wellingborough will benefit from improvements to the A45 Wilby Way Roundabout and the commencement of the new East Midlands Rail franchise timetable, which will introduce a new hourly service between Kettering, Wellingborough and London.
	In the longer term, both the work that Northamptonshire county council is doing in preparing its transport strategy for growth, and with the Department and other partners to resolve the particular issues associated with the A14 trunk road, will highlight potential scheme priorities but more detailed appraisal is required before any firm indication on specific target dates can be given.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Finance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will allow  (a) independent schools,  (b) successful secondary schools and  (c) further education colleges to sponsor city academies.

Jim Knight: Yes.

Academies: Isle of Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any of the funding commitments to the proposed federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey are dependent on the sale of local school property for development.

Jim Knight: Kent county council has committed to using the capital resources at its disposal to contribute £4 million to the budget for establishing an academy on the Isle of Sheppey. On the basis of information it has supplied, this sum may be realised in total or in part by land sales at school sites in Sheppey or elsewhere in Kent. Any land sale at a school site will be managed in accordance with the relevant guidance and legislation.

Academies: Isle of Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals have lead responsibilities for taking forward the plans for a federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey.

Jim Knight: Dulwich college, as lead sponsor, is responsible for taking forward the educational proposals for the Sheppey academy. It is represented on the Project Steering Group by Ralph Mainard, deputy master.
	In line with national academies policy, the project to develop and deliver the building programme will be managed by Kent's Local Education Partnership. On the basis of information supplied by Kent county council (KCC), a preferred consortia is due to be selected to form the Local Education Partnership with KCC and Partnerships for Schools in the fourth quarter of 2007. The project to develop and deliver the academy will form part of the national wave 4 programme. Since the procurement is not yet complete, it is not possible to comment on which individual will have lead responsibility for this aspect of the project.

Academies: Isle of Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the team in charge of the development of the federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey has met the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Jim Knight: The procurement of the Kent Local Education Partnership is not yet complete. However, all schools that are developed and delivered by the LEP will be subject to formal review, in line with national policy, by both CABE and Partnerships for Schools.

Academies: Isle of Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans there are to appoint a client design adviser to the executive team responsible for the development of the federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey.

Jim Knight: Kent county council has appointed Gensler as client design adviser for this academy project.

Curriculum: Citizenship

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to ensure that the citizenship curriculum includes the teaching of  (a) the words of the National Anthem and  (b) knowledge of the flags and patron saints of the nations of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The flags, patron saints and the national anthem of the United Kingdom are not a separate element of the citizenship curriculum and there are currently no plans to change this. However, understanding the origins and implications of the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom is an important part of citizenship curriculum, which has been statutory for 11-16 year olds since 2002. Following the recommendation in Sir Keith Ajegbo's recent review of "Diversity and Citizenship in the Curriculum", from September 2008 the revised citizenship curriculum for secondary schools will include a new strand entitled "Identity and Diversity: living together in the UK". In this context, pupils will have the opportunity to explore what it means to be a UK citizen and the unique qualities that are part of our shared identity. They may consider the political, religious, social and constitutional systems that affect their lives and communities and that may include learning about the flags, patron saints and the national anthem.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Science

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the decision by the Joint Council for Qualifications to increase the proportion of lower demand questions in the GCSE science examinations.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	It is for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as the independent regulator to ensure that standards at GCSE are maintained. The changes referred to follow a review of standards in GCSE double award science published in March 2007 and covering the five-year period 2000-05. QCA was involved in the process and believes that the changes in the proportions of questions will not affect the overall standard of the GCSE, while allowing lower achievers to demonstrate positive achievement.

Pupil Exclusions: West Yorkshire

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school children in (i) Leeds and (ii) West Yorkshire were excluded from school for a period of five days or fewer in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The requested information can be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Data on the number of fixed period exclusions in 2005/06 by local authority was published in June 2007:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml
	Data for 2004/05 was published in June 2006:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000662/index.shtml

Pupil Exclusions: West Yorkshire

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school children in (i) Leeds and (ii) West Yorkshire were permanently excluded from school in each of the last five years; in how many of these cases the decision was appealed; and in how many cases the appeal was successful.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The number of pupils permanently excluded from school in (a) Leeds and (b) Yorkshire and The Humber are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Maintained Primary, Secondary and Special Schools( 1) : Number of Permanent Exclusions, 2001/02 to 2005/06 
			   Leeds Local Authority Area 
			   Primary  Secondary  Special  Total (rounded) 
			   Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2) 
			 2001/02 0 0.00 111 0.23 0 0.00 110 0.10 
			 2002/03 10 0.01 130 0.28 10 1.06 150 0.13 
			 2003/04 7 0.01 172 0.36 0 0.00 180 0.16 
			 2004/05 * * 118 0.25 0 0.00 120 0.11 
			 2005/06 3 0.00 85 0.18 * * 90 0.08 
			 * = Figures below 3 are suppressed.  (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January each year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			   Primary  Secondary  Special  Total (rounded) 
			   Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2)  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of school population( 2) 
			 2001/02 110 0.02 780 0.23 30 0.34 920 0.11 
			 2002/03 100 0.02 750 0.22 30 0.32 880 0.11 
			 2003/04 100 0.02 790 0.23 20 0.25 910 0.11 
			 2004/05 80 0.02 740 0.21 20 0.23 840 0.10 
			 2005/06 80 0.02 680 0.20 10 0.17 770 0.10 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2 )The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January each year.   Note:  Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	The number of appeals against permanent exclusion from schools for (a) Leeds and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Maintained Primary, Secondary and Special Schools( 1) : Appeals Against Permanent Exclusion, 2001/02 to 2005/06 
			   Leeds Local Authority Area 
			   2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Number of appeals lodged 12 23 27 36 28 
			 Number of appeals heard 12 23 27 36 28 
			 Percentage of appeals heard 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 
			 Number of appeals decided in favour of the parent/pupil * 4 3 8 4 
			 Percentage of appeals decided in favour of the parent/pupil(2) 16.67 17.39 12.50 22.22 14.29 
			 * = Figures below 3 are suppressed.  (1) Excludes non-maintained special schools.  (2) Shown as a percentage of the appeals heard. 
		
	
	
		
			   Yorkshire and the Humber 
			   2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Number of appeals lodged 137 104 129 127 107 
			 Number of appeals heard 132 99 124 125 101 
			 Percentage of appeals heard 96.35 95.19 96.12 98.43 94.39 
			 Number of appeals decided in favour of the parent/pupil 18 169 18 27 25 
			 Percentage of appeals decided in favour of the parent/pupil(2) 13.64 16.16 14.52 21.26 24.75 
			 (1) Excludes non-maintained special schools. (2) Shown as a percentage of the appeals heard.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average total amount of spending on each student throughout their school lives was for the 2007 GCSE cohort; and how many students from that cohort finished compulsory school with no GCSE qualifications or equivalent.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The information requested is provided as follows:
	 (a) For pupils who completed their GCSEs in 2007, their schools will have on average received £40,000 in real terms revenue funding per pupil over the eleven years of their schooling from the age of 5 to 15.
	 (b) Students that finished compulsory school with no GCSE qualifications or equivalent in 2006 in contained within the following table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 645,931 
			 Achieving no passes at GCSE or equivalent(1) (2)14,346 
			 (1 )Including entry level qualifications, which are below grade G at GCSE. (2) 2.2 per cent. of the cohort  Note: These figures are based on final 2006 data; provisional 2007 data will be published on 18 October 2007.

Schools: Capital Investment

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the capital investment in schools in the City of York was in each year since 1996-97.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 Records are not maintained centrally of local authority capital expenditure on schools, as this is decided in accordance with local asset management plans and will depend upon local authorities' total sources of available funding. Capital allocations to York city council and schools in its area in each year since 1996-97 are set in the following table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1996-97 0.8 
			 1997-98 1.3 
			 1998-99 1.8 
			 1999-2000 4.5 
			 2000-01 7.4 
			 2001-02 4.8 
			 2002-03 25.5 
			 2003-04 9.7 
			 2004-05 9.4 
			 2005-06 8.7 
			 2006-07 28.5 
			 2007-08 6.4 
		
	
	The large allocations in 2002-03 and 2006-07 result, respectively, from a PFI allocation of £15.4 million and successful Targeted Capital Fund (TCP) bids of £22.2 million. TCP allocations were made throughout the period 2001-02 to 2006-07. Although no TCP allocation was made in 2007-08, there is building work in progress this year resulting from the earlier allocations.

Schools: Standards

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) primary schools,  (b) junior schools and  (c) infant schools have been (i) placed in special measures and (ii) given notice to improve in 2006-07; and whether he has commissioned research on the frequency of these events in the three school types.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The following table gives the information requested.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Ofsted category  Primary schools placed into category during the 2006/07 academic year  Infant schools placed into category during the 2006/07 academic year  Junior schools placed into category during the 2006/07 academic year  All( 1)  primary schools placed into category during the 2006/07 academic year 
			 Special Measures 0.8 0.2 1.4 0.7 
			 Significant Improvement (Notice to Improve) 1.0 0.2 2.2 1.0 
			 (1) Includes first schools and middle deemed primary schools. 
		
	
	The Department has not commissioned research in this area, but will discuss the matter with Ofsted.

Teachers: Languages

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers of modern foreign languages in secondary schools have degree level qualifications in  (a) Mandarin and  (b) Urdu.

Jim Knight: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teenage Pregnancy

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in reducing pregnancy rates among under 18-year-olds since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The latest annual under-18 conception data, published in February 2007, relate to conceptions that occurred in 2005. This data showed that the under-18 conception rate had fallen by 11.8 per cent. since 1998 (the baseline year for the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy), to its lowest level for over 20 years. The under-16 conception rate has also fallen—by 12.1 per cent. between 1998 and 2005.
	First quarter 2006 data show an encouraging continued downward trend in both the under-18 and under-16 conception rates. While trends in quarterly conception rates should be interpreted with caution, first quarter 2006 rates are the lowest first quarter rates since 1993, when the statistical series started.
	We have issued guidance to local authorities and primary care trusts on what we consider to be the key ingredients of local strategies, based on evidence from those local areas which have had most success in reducing teenage conception rates. All areas have been asked to use this guidance to accelerate progress to the levels of the best—if all areas had performed as well as the top quartile, the national reduction would be 26 per cent., more than twice the reduction actually achieved.

Truancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when and for what reasons the decision to end nationally co-ordinated truancy sweeps was taken;
	(2)  what measures his Department has in place to monitor the effectiveness of truancy sweeps; and what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of such sweeps.

Jim Knight: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The Department began co-ordinating voluntary twice-yearly national truancy sweeps in May 2002. Each sweep focused local authority activity within the three-week period on which our data collections were based.
	We took the decision in January 2007 to end this national co-ordination and data collection. Many local authorities had by then established local sweeps which were better aligned to local police service schedules, operating more frequently and effectively than within a centrally prescribed three-week period.
	Having given local authorities the flexibility to make more effective local arrangements, we do not attempt to closely monitor these but instead gather and share their effective practice with others. Since April 2007, police community service officers have the power to remove absentee pupils from a public place. Later this month, we will publish updated guidance on effective practice in planning and undertaking truancy sweeps to reflect these powers.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Death

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the conditions for which extended travel times on blue light emergency ambulance journeys are  (a) material and  (b) immaterial to mortality.

Ben Bradshaw: The way the national health service responds to emergencies needs to focus not just on getting the patient to a location but also on taking care of the patient. This is why it is necessary to focus on a range of measures, including response times by the ambulance service, its ability to administer a wide range of treatment and provision of urgent and social care in the community.
	The aim should always be to provide high quality care for patients close to home where this is clinically safe. Some patients may require more specialised care at centres with clinicians who have the right expertise and equipment.
	Local health services need to decide the shape of local urgent and emergency care services so that they are responsive to the needs of the local population.

Ambulance Services: Personnel

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of response staff in each ambulance NHS trust are  (a) ambulance technicians,  (b) paramedics and  (c) emergency care practitioners.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Data is available for ambulance staff breakdown, as at September 2006, through the Information Centre for health and social care 2006 Non-Medical Workforce Census. The following table sets out the proportion of ambulance technicians, paramedics and emergency care practitioners against the total number of employed staff for each ambulance trust. Response staff as a category is not collected and is therefore not available as part of the census return.
	Ambulance trusts are currently producing individual five-year workforce outlook plans, providing more up-to-date information, which might show a different staffing position to the census.
	
		
			  H eadcount percentages 
			O f which: 
			   Total staff  Ambulance technician  Ambulance paramedic  Emergency care practitioner 
			 Total Ambulance Trusts 100 21.4 25.4 1.3 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 30.0 23.0 0.5 
			 East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 19.1 21.6 3.5 
			 Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 24.6 28.0 1.4 
			 London Ambulance Service 100 31.7 23.9 1.0 
			 North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 23.6 23.5 0.0 
			 North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 12.4 26.6 0.9 
			 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 19.5 21.6 1.2 
			 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 27.7 26.8 0.6 
			 South Western Ambulance NHS Trust 100 4.1 37.5 1.0 
			 Staffordshire Ambulance Service 100 31.2 39.1 0.0 
			 West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 21.4 28.2 2.3 
			 Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 100 18.8 21.4 0.9 
			  Note: South Western Ambulance NHS Trust's Ambulance Technician figures are low in comparison to other Ambulance trusts. This is likely to be due to the re-coding of Ambulance staff in 2006. These figures have been clarified and signed off by the Trust.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care 2006 Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Dental Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets his Department set for access to NHS dentists under the new dental contract.

Ann Keen: The Department does not set targets for levels of access. Primary care trusts are responsible for assessing local needs and providing or commissioning dental services that reflect these needs.

Dental Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of  (a) adults and  (b) children in each primary care trust have access to NHS dentistry.

Ann Keen: Information is collected centrally and published regularly on the number of adults and children who receive care or treatment from an national health service dentist in a given area over a 24 month period and the percentage of the adult and child population this represents.
	Information on the percentage of adults and children who received care or treatment, by primary care trust, in the 24-month period ending 31 March 2007 is contained in table C2 of annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07" report. This is the most recent period for which data are available.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607

Dental Services: Cornwall

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of dentist surgeries offered NHS services in Cornwall in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of national health service dental surgeries in the primary care trusts (PCTs) within Cornwall are provided in the following table up to 31 March 2007. Information on the number of private dental surgeries is not collected centrally and therefore the proportion of dental surgeries offering NHS services cannot be calculated.
	
		
			  Number of NHS dental surgeries in the primary care trusts within Cornwall as at the specified dates 
			   30 September  31 March 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 West of Cornwall 29 29 26 24 23 23 23 22 22 24 (1)— 
			 North and East Cornwall 25 24 23 23 23 23 21 23 23 24 (1)— 
			 Central Cornwall 34 35 35 40 38 38 40 39 39 42 (1)— 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 85 
			 (1 )Not applicable. On 1 October 2006, West of Cornwall PCT, North and East Cornwall PCT and Central Cornwall PCT merged to become Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT.   Notes: 1. The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the PCT area. 2. The figures provide a snapshot of the number of addresses with open contracts at the specified time. 3. No account is taken to the amount of service, if any, that each dentist provides.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care. NHS Business Services Authority.

Dental Services: Cornwall

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of  (a) adults and  (b) children were treated by NHS dentists in Cornwall, broken down by the smallest available areas for which data are available in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not held centrally in the form requested. For the period up to 31 March 2006, information is available on the proportion of patients registered with a dental practice to receive national health service care and treatment.
	The proportion of patients registered, by adult/child, as at 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2006 are available in Annex B of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006". Information is available at strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) level in England.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006.
	Since April 2006, patients no longer have to register with a dental practice to receive NHS care and treatment. Instead, data are collected on the number of patients receiving NHS dental services (patients seen) in a given area over a 24-month period. This is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years when patients registered for a 15-month period.
	The number of patients seen, by adult/child, in the previous 24 months as a percentage of the population, ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in Table C1 of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07" report. Information is available at SHA and PCT level in England.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	In both reports, data at PCT level are the smallest regional area for which information is available.

Departments: Departmental Coordination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) ministerial committees and  (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Ministers for Women.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	As with all cross cutting issues, Ministers and officials in this Department liaise with the Ministers for Women as necessary. There are no specific ministerial committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants set up to do this.

Dietary Supplements: EC Law

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the addition of fluorosilicates to the public water supply in relation to the requirements of the EU Food Supplements Directive.

Ann Keen: We are aware that the European Commission has published an orientation paper on setting maximum and minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs. The proposals seem compatible with the target concentration of 1 mg per litre used in fluoridation schemes in the United Kingdom, but we will monitor the progress of this consultation to see if any guidance is necessary.

Family Planning

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners have received formal training in the provision of family planning services.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the making of medical claims by NHS employees in relation to the fluoridation of the public water supply.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued any specific guidance, but we would welcome discussion of any evidence-based claims about the effects of the fluoridation of water.

Health Services: Foreigners

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds the UK has sought from  (a) Poland,  (b) Romania,  (c) Hungary and  (d) Brazil for treatment of their citizens by the NHS in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Romania, Hungary and Poland are new member states so discussions are taking place with them to establish the arrangements for settling claims for health care made under the European Union regulations.
	There is no agreement with Brazil and any Brazilian nationals requiring national health service treatment would be required to pay.

Health Services: Overseas Residence

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with  (a) French and  (b) Spanish governments on health care costs of UK citizens resident in each such country.

Ben Bradshaw: There are regular discussions with these governments on the operating of the European economic area (EEA) regulations under which the United Kingdom is responsible for the cost of health care for those UK citizens in EEA countries who are in receipt of UK pension and are not entitled to a pension from the country in which they are resident.

Home Care Services

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to primary care trusts on the funding of the care of patients that are incapacitated and would rather stay at home and be cared for at home, but would cost less if they were moved to a residential home.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific guidance has been issued to primary care trusts (PCTs). The White Paper, "Our health, our care, our say", outlines the Government's expectation that, wherever possible, PCTs and local authorities provide appropriate health and care services in the community to support people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

Infant Foods: Fluoride

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the use of fluoridated water to make infant formula milk.

Ann Keen: We are evaluating advice issued by the American Dental Association that fluoridated water should not be used to make up powdered infant formula because of the risk of dental fluorosis. We need to judge whether the advice is relevant to the United Kingdom where there is a lower limit on the concentration of fluoride permitted in water than in the United States of America. The Department's advice to parents concerned about fluorosis is that breastfeeding is the best option. Where this is not possible, concerned parents could consider using ready-to-use infant formula which has a low fluoride content.

Infant Mortality: Incinerators

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the correlation between the presence of a functioning incinerator and the incidence of infant mortality in that area.

Ben Bradshaw: In November 2005 the Health Protection Agency issued advice on the public health impact of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration and this is available on their website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/chemicals/ippc/incineration_posn_ statement.pdf.
	This information has also been placed in the Library.
	Emissions from modern waste incinerators in the United Kingdom are subject to stringent health controls.

NHS Accountancy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates the annual accounts of the NHS were published in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: pursuant to the reply, 26 July 2007, c. 1443-44W
	All national health service bodies are required to publish their accounts locally. The accounts must be presented at a public meeting held no later than 30 September following the end of the financial year (31 March).
	The National Audit Office publish the NHS summarised accounts for strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts. The publication dates for the last five financial years were:
	2001-02: 21 March 2003
	2002-03: 28 April 2004
	2003-04: 24 June 2005
	2004-05: 7 June 2006
	2005-06: 6 July 2007

NHS: Foreign Workers

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses from overseas countries have  (a) entered the UK to work in the NHS and  (b) subsequently returned to their own country in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council collects data on the number of overseas nurses who register with them each year. It does not collect data on whether these nurses entered the United Kingdom, returned to their own country or worked in the national health service.
	The data are available at: www.nmc-uk.org.

NHS: Labour Party

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many of the 10 strategic health authority visits by Lord Darzi's review group the NHS has agreed a filming opportunity for the Labour Party.

Ben Bradshaw: None.

NHS: Public Participation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the operation of citizens' juries on the NHS will  (a) reflect and  (b) affect the terms of the devolution settlement in Wales.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Under the devolution settlement responsibility for health policy and healthcare delivery within Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales (NAW). It is a matter for the NAW whether they wish to use citizens' juries to consider issues affecting the national health service in Wales.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to consult with asthma sufferers as part of its review of prescription charges;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to review the cost of prescriptions for medication to treat asthma.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement given to the House on 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 44WS.

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what training healthcare staff receive on the prevention, detection and treatment of pressure sores; and what part of this training is a mandatory requirement;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to introduce mandatory reporting of incidents of pressure ulcers; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what guidance and standards his Department has issued in respect of the prevention, management and treatment of pressure sores for all care settings; and how many care homes, nursing homes, hospitals and primary care trusts meet such guidance and standards.

Ben Bradshaw: Education and training of healthcare staff, including the prevention, detection and treatment of pressure ulcers, is the responsibility of their employers. Tissue viability is a vital component of nursing care for patients, and one in which there is a strong body of evidence about effective treatment.
	Nurses receive training in this during their preparation for registration, and as part of their continuing professional development. They have access to specialist tissue viability nurses who provide training as well as expert advice in the care of individual patients. To reinforce the necessity for continuing learning, regulatory bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, require healthcare professionals to maintain competence in their field of practice as a condition of their continued registration.
	There are no central plans to require healthcare staff to report incidents of pressure sores. However, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on tissue viability requires that pressure ulceration over grade 2 be treated as a local clinical incident. Tissue viability is considered a nurse-sensitive indicator and is viewed by trusts as an important pointer to the quality of patient care.
	"Essence of Care", published in 2003, sets benchmarks for pressure ulcers in health and social care settings, and helps healthcare professionals to devise appropriate care plans. NICE has published detailed clinical guidelines on pressure ulcer management in primary and secondary care. It is the responsibility of local health bodies to ensure that this guidance is implemented.
	In respect of care homes, regulation 13(6) of the Care Home Regulations 2001, states:
	"The registered person shall make arrangements, by training staff or by other measures, to prevent service users being harmed or suffering abuse or being placed at risk of harm or abuse."
	In addition, there are other general training requirements in regulation 18 to ensure staff receive training appropriate to the work they perform, including, where relevant, the prevention and treatment of pressure sores.
	Under regulation 17 of the Care Homes Regulations 2001, care homes for adults are required to keep a record for each service user, which includes the incidence of pressure sores and of treatment provided to the service user.
	The requirements in the regulations are further clarified in the National Minimum Standards. The relevant standards are standard 30 in the Care Homes for Older People standards and standard 35 in the Care Homes for Adults standards. As at 31 March 2005 over 71 per cent. of older people's care homes and care homes for adults met the relevant standards.

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department funded into pressure sores in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service and through its health technology assessment programme has funded two projects on pressure sores at a total cost of £1.1 million. They are:
	a randomised controlled trial comparing alternating pressure overlays with alternating pressure mattresses for pressure sore prevention and treatment; and
	a systematic review of wound care management.
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects including a number concerned with the causes and treatment of pressure sores are available on the national research register at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Worthing Hospital

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a Minister from his Department last visited Worthing Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: We are not aware of a Health Minister having visited Worthing Hospital in the last 10 years.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated  (a) number and  (b) value is of new payment entitlements following the abolition of the fruit, vegetable and potato authorisation system in England under the rules of the single payment scheme.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	As I announced on 29 August 2007, the system of fruit, vegetable and potato authorisations under the single payment scheme (SPS) will be abolished from 2008. A consultation will follow shortly on implementation of the other SPS aspects of the reforms of the EU fruit and vegetable regime agreed earlier this year. This will include when orchard and nursery land will become eligible under the scheme and the criteria under which any new entitlements will be allocated in respect of such land.

Animals: Disease Control

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff there were in  (a) complement and  (b) post at the Health and Safety Executive allocated to the task of monitoring safe practices in accordance with statutory requirements at UK bio-containment facilities on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 10 September 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	In each of the last five financial years the number of specialist inspectors employed on this work in the Biological Agents Unit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was as follows:
	
		
			  Specialist inspectors 
			   Number 
			 2002-03 16 
			 2003-04 16 
			 2004-05 13 
			 2005-06 13 
			 2006-07 16 
		
	
	HSE considers the Unit fully staffed at 16 specialist inspectors. The shortfalls in 2004-05 and 2005-06 arose from staff turnover.
	HSE's responsibilities do not extend to the bio-security of animal pathogen laboratories.

Animals: Disease Control

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each month in the last five years  (a) the high security unit,  (b) incinerators and  (c) effluent treatment plant at the Compton and Pirbright facilities of the Institute for Animal Health were closed down for safety reasons; and how long the closures were in each case;
	(2)  whether the  (a) Pirbright and  (b) Compton site of the Institute for Animal Health is in compliance with the statutory requirements for (i) legionella, (ii) asbestos, (iii) five year fixed wiring tests and (iv) fire survey statutory regulations;
	(3)  on how many occasions in each month in the last five years there were recorded instances of the negative building operating pressure in  (a) bio-containment facilities at Compton and Pirbright and  (b) the High Security Unit at Compton (i) being accidentally reversed, (ii) falling below normal levels and (iii) experiencing noticeable periods of loss of negative pressure.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 10 September
	I have been asked to reply.
	These are matters for the Institute of Animal Health which is an independent company limited by guarantee with charitable status. I have drawn the attention of the Chairman of the Governing Board to the hon. Member's questions.

Bees: Diseases

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of bee colonies in the UK affected by colony collapse disorder.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a generic name given to a number of major colony losses reported by no more than around 60 commercial bee farmers spread across 25 states in the USA. Currently, the UK is not suffering from similar bee health-related problems on the same scale. Nevertheless, the National Bee Unit (NBU) at DEFRA's Central Science Laboratory is maintaining close contact with researchers from the USA who are investigating possible causes.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been appointed to his Department outside of Civil Service grades in the last 30 days.

Jonathan R Shaw: The only appointments made outside civil service grades are board appointments. My Department publishes information annually on appointments to the public bodies for which it is responsible. Data for 2006-07 are in the process of being collated, and will be published shortly.

Departments: Redundancy Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on redundancy payments in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: In the 12 months from July 2006 to June 2007 there were 318 redundancies from my Department and its Executive Agencies.
	During that period, £11.3 million was spent on payments relating to these redundancies. A further £15.6 million was set aside for related payments which would fall due after that period in cases where the redundancies were in the form of early retirement, or where single payments were due to staff whose last day of service fell on or after 30 June 2007.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on  (a) staff training and  (b) communication training in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The staff training expenditure for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for 2006-07 was £3.9 million. To identify the expenditure on communications training would incur disproportionate costs as this information is not held centrally.

Dogs: Licensing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of the reintroduction of dog licensing.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	We currently have no plans to reintroduce a dog licence. The Government support the approach taken by responsible dog owners who voluntarily have their pets permanently identified and registered on nationwide databases. The effectiveness of a dog licensing system is questionable; in the last year licences were administered (1988) only 44 per cent. of dog owners applied for a licence. There is no evidence to suggest that the opinion of dog owners has changed and that any new scheme introduced would be adopted by the majority of dog owners.

Energy: Conservation

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much central government funding has been spent on energy efficiency measures in  (a) council,  (b) housing association and  (c) private homes in York in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The Information requested, where available, is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Local Authority Housing Investment 
			   Investment (£ million) 
			 1997-98 1,534,000 
			 1998-99 1,625,000 
			 1999-2000 1,267,000 
			 2000-01 1,349,000 
			 2001-02 1,944,000 
			 2002-03 1,529,000 
			 2003-04 2,227,000 
			 2004-05 1,767,000 
			 2005-06 2,096,000 
			 2006-07 (1)— 
			 (1) Data not yet available. 
		
	
	Information is not currently available for housing association homes.
	These figures cover double-glazing, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and heating improvements, This work has been completed by the local authority as part of an overall modernisation programme for housing under the Communities and Local Government's Decent Homes scheme.
	Defra's main programme for improving the energy efficiency of vulnerable households is the Warm Front scheme, which provides grants for heating and insulation measures. Warm Front spending on measures in York is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Private Households 
			   Investment (£000) 
			 1997-98 94,000 
			 1998-99 202,000 
			 1999-2000 82,000 
			 2000-01 46,677 
			 2001-02 176,359 
			 2002-03 111,675 
			 2003-04 98,963 
			 2004-05 319,461 
			 2005-06 319,461 
			 2006-07 536,997 
			 Year to date 214,107

Environment Agency: Official Hospitality

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on  (a) hotel bills,  (b) trips to the Belfry Golf Course,  (c) trips to Henley Regatta,  (d) other hospitality and  (e) other corporate costs in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 July 2007
	This is a matter for the Environment Agency and I have asked them to write to you direct with the information you requested.

Flood Control: Northamptonshire

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to improve flood defences in North Northamptonshire.

Phil Woolas: In 2007-08 the Environment Agency plans to spend £0.6 million on routine maintenance in the Corby, Wellingborough and Kettering areas. Over the period from 2008-09 to 2010-11 it is planned to commit a further £1.8 million in this area to maintain watercourses and assets.
	The Environment Agency also has a programme of capital improvements to flood defences. In 2007-08 £0.14 million will be spent on improving flood storage facilities downstream of Northampton and at Weldon. Over the next 10 years from 2008-09 a further £4.8 million is included in the Agency's capital programme to deliver flood defence improvements identified in the Nene Catchment Flood Management Plan, the Nene Strategy (Kettering and Wellingborough) and the Nene Flood Defence Structures refurbishment programme.
	In North Northamptonshire further strategic flood risk measures will be necessary to mitigate proposed future development and housing growth. The Environment Agency, working in partnership with North Northamptonshire Planning Unit, will seek to secure up to £50 million from developer and local authority contributions to fund and build the new flood defences required to provide sustainable flood risk management infrastructure ahead of development.

Floods

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the economic impact of the summer 2007 floods on the  (a) agriculture industry,  (b) horticulture industry,  (c) local government and  (d) tourism industry.

Parmjit Dhanda: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not hold centrally the information requested on the economic impact of the summer 2007 floods and a full answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Our application for the European Union Solidarity Fund European was submitted on 20 August. A provisional assessment of damage caused by the June and July floods lies at above €4 billion. While this is currently the best working estimate based on work with local authorities and other agencies, the final and confirmed costs will not be known for some time.
	Data on the economic impact on the agriculture and horticulture industries of the summer 2007 floods are not yet available. I understand that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have commissioned work to estimate the value of immediate crop and livestock losses from flooding, and will publish this when it is complete later in the year.
	Following the floods 50 local authorities have registered for assistance from the Bellwin Scheme for June and 52 have registered for July. 20 local authorities have registered for both schemes. Once we have assessed the claims from these local authorities we will have information on the uninsurable costs they have incurred as a result of the floods. For the last nationwide flooding scheme in 2000, we paid out £21 million to 76 local authorities. We do not know yet what the level of costs will be this time.
	A full estimate of the costs to the tourism industry of the floods has not been completed. It is of the nature of tourism that the impact on future holiday bookings will take time to emerge. However, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association estimates losses of around £25 million. Worcestershire estimates losses of between £100 to £150 million and Advantage West Midlands have reported losses of £20 million. Data on Hull and East Yorkshire suggest tourism costs of £4.75 million. A full assessment of the total impact on the tourism industry will not be available for some time.

Floods: Insurance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amount of uninsured losses arising from the summer 2007 floods.

Parmjit Dhanda: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested on the amount of uninsured losses arising from the summer 2007 floods is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Floods: Worcestershire

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions on  (a) the insurability of properties in Worcestershire and  (b) the availability of loss adjusters the Government are having with insurance companies following the July floods.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Myself and ministerial colleagues from other departments met with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 10 July and there has been a continuing dialogue with both the ABI and individual insurers. The ABI has confirmed that its members are continuing to adhere to the statement of principles and this should ensure continued widespread availability of domestic flood insurance cover.
	Officials have met regularly with the ABI and representatives from other Government departments, forming a flood recovery and insurance working group to exchange information and help to identify and resolve potential bottlenecks in the recovery process. The ABI is working with its members to manage the extra claims which have arisen to ensure they are processed as quickly as possible and additional loss adjusters have been brought in from other countries.

Fly Tipping

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, column 946W, on fly-tipping, how many incidents of fly-tipping were recorded in 2006-07, broken down by local authority; what the estimated cost was of dealing with incidents of fly-tipping in that year in each local authority area; and how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there were for fly-tipping in each local authority area in the UK in 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: Fly-tipping data for 2006-07 are currently being prepared and are not yet available. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House when they have been finalised.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which recommendations of the Spratt Review into the outbreak of foot and mouth disease the Government do not intend to take forward in full.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA agrees with all recommendations of the "Independent Review of the safety of UK facilities handling foot and mouth disease virus" by Professor Brian Spratt.
	In regard to Recommendation 1, we agree in principle but there is uncertainty as to whether any further work could conclusively identify the source of the virus. At present, we do not believe that it would add to our understanding of the risk mitigation measures that need to be put in place as a result of the Pirbright escape but we will keep that assessment under review.
	Professor Spratt's report and the Government response are available on the DEFRA website and in the Libraries of the House,

Foot and Mouth Disease

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the cost to the Government of the measures put in place during the most recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 September 2007
	To date, the total cost to the Department of dealing with the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease is approximately £8.7 million. This figure is subject to amendment as more data become available.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the total financial cost to the cattle industry of the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 September 2007
	My Department has made an initial estimate of the total costs of the outbreak to the UK of £20 million, based on an economic model that has been developed for foot and mouth disease. The full impact will depend on domestic and international restrictions that remain in place and the estimate may be revised as further data become available. Disaggregated estimates of the cost for the cattle industry would be subject to very considerable margins for error.

Government Laboratories: Security

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what biosecurity breaches have occurred over the last five years at Government-funded laboratories conducting research into infectious animal diseases; and what penalties have been imposed on those responsible.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Licences issued by DEFRA to laboratories which handle specified animal pathogens under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) 1998 impose strict requirements in relation to biosecurity. Under the Animal Health Act 1981, it is an offence to breach a term of a licence.
	No such offences have been confirmed, and so no penalties have been imposed, at a Government-funded laboratory conducting research into infectious animal diseases, whether funded by DEFRA or another Department, in the last five years. Regular inspection and ongoing liaison with SAPO-licensed laboratories seeks to ensure that potential deficiencies in biosecurity are identified quickly and remedial action is taken.
	The Health and Safety Executive has published a report on potential breaches of biosecurity at Pirbright following the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey. This report is available from the DEFRA website and the Libraries of the House. SAPO legislation is enforced by local authorities. Surrey county council are now urgently considering the contents of the reports and will determine what action, if any, is necessary.

Lorries: Exhaust Emissions

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 85W, on lorries: exhaust emissions, what plans he has to  (a) to undertake and  (b) to commission further research into the effects of HGV emissions on (i) special protection areas, (ii) sites of special scientific interest and (iii) sites of importance for nature conservation.

Joan Ruddock: There are no plans, at present, for my Department to undertake or commission further research into the effects of HGV emissions on any of the areas mentioned in (i) — (iii).
	However, Defra has committed, through the Air Quality Strategy review launched in July, to carrying out further analysis over the next year and considering how best to ensure the protection of ecosystems against air pollution in the medium to the long term. Decisions on the funding of future research will be taken once this work is complete.

Milk Marketing Board: Gloucestershire

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Milk Marketing Board TB testing station in Longford, Gloucestershire was closed; what the reasons were for its closure; and where its records have been kept since its closure.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The Milk Marketing Boards (MMB) were abolished in 1994. While Defra took on some responsibilities for the Residuary Milk Marketing Boards, the records we retain do not relate to testing regimes.

Milk: Overseas Trade

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons were for his Department commissioning Agra Leas Consulting to produce a report into the potential for future GB-European trade in liquid milk.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	DEFRA commissioned this work to clarify the various economic, logistical and technological barriers and risks apparently resulting in limited trade in liquid milk between GB and the rest of Europe (including Ireland). The report was also commissioned to provide an evidence base for the industry to use to identify further threats and opportunities with regard to global trade.

National Bee Unit: Finance

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding the National Bee Unit received in each of the last five years; and how much it will receive in the next financial year.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Expenditure on the National Bee Unit (NBU) by DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£) 
			 2003-04 1,518,000 
			 2004-05 1,518,000 
			 2005-06 1,518,000 
			 2006-07 1,518,000 
			 2007-08 1,518,000 
		
	
	These figures do not include any expenditure on specific research projects, although some of the NBU's activity is in support of research initiatives. DEFRA's annual expenditure on bee health research has averaged around £210,000 since 2001.
	There is an ongoing review of expenditure on all DEFRA programmes, including bee health. Future funding will need to be considered alongside the full range of priorities facing the Department but we will not take decisions that could compromise biosecurity and the sustainability of bee health in England.

National Bee Unit: Inspections

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for how many beekeepers each National Bee Unit inspector is responsible in the six months of the year when inspections are undertaken.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The number of beekeepers for which bee inspectors have responsibility varies according to the inspector's allocated area and whether they are employed on a part-time or full-time basis. In 2006, 5092 apiary visits were carried out. Many inspectors conducted around 100 to 150 visits, and some 200 to 250 visits, per season. In addition, regional bee inspectors are available all year and can carry out inspections outside the traditional season. Inspections are targeted in areas where disease risk and colony density are highest and about 10 per cent. of the total number of apiaries is inspected each year.

Pirbright Laboratory: Standards

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last inspection of biosecurity standards at the Pirbright Laboratory in Surrey took place before August 2007; and what the outcome was of that inspection.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	DEFRA inspects laboratories which are licensed to handle specified animal pathogens under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) 1998. The laboratory at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) in Pirbright was last inspected under SAPO in December 2006. Some issues relating to biosecurity were identified. IAH was required to submit action plans for addressing them and the progress of these plans was closely monitored.

Marine Bill

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date he expects to bring forward a Marine Bill.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 September 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State on 19 July 2007,  Official Report, column 505W.

Warm Front Scheme: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of the recommendation in the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for England's fifth annual report that funding for the Warm Front scheme be maintained at the 2007-08 level of £351 million per annum until 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The Government's response to the recommendations made by the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group in its annual report, which was published in April 2007, will be available in the fifth annual progress report.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Minorities

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of people from  (a) black and minority ethnic,  (b) disabled and  (c) socially excluded groups were considered to be (i) attending and (ii) participating in arts opportunities when (A) baseline figures were set and (B) the latest departmental estimate was made; what assessment he has made of progress made towards his Department's public service agreement target to increase significantly the take-up of arts opportunities by new users from priority groups; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The baseline estimates set in December 2006 were as follows:
	(i) Attendance at two different types of arts events by priority groups during the past 12 months:
	 (a) 23.5 per cent. of people from black and minority ethnic groups,
	 (b) 24.1 per cent. of people with a limiting disability,
	 (c) 17.4 per cent. of people from socially excluded groups.
	(ii) Participation in two different types of arts activities by priority groups during the past 12 months:
	 (a) 20.8 per cent. of people from black and minority ethnic groups,
	 (b) 18.9 per cent. of people with a limiting disability,
	 (c) 15.3 per cent. of people from socially excluded groups.
	A progress report, published in June 2007, showed no statistically significant change to these figures. However, this is only the first progress report on the target and this Department is intensifying its work with Arts Council England to broaden access and increase engagement with the arts among under-represented groups. Progress on the target will be monitored on a regular basis until the final assessment is available in late 2008.

Artworks: Prime Minister

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the  (a) title and  (b) artist is of each piece of artwork that has been (i) added and (ii) removed from Number 10 Downing street and the Prime Minister's offices since 27 June 2007.

Margaret Hodge: Other than some works of art that were temporarily removed from 10 Downing street during building works and subsequently returned, the only work removed from 10 Downing street since 27 June 2007 has been a painting (Paris-Plage, Picardy by William Frederick Mayor) removed by the Government Art Collection for display in another Government building. No works of art have been installed at 10 Downing street since this date.

Hotels: Insolvency

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) hotels and  (b) bed and breakfasts that have declared themselves insolvent since 1997, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Insolvency Service maintains records of bankruptcies and liquidations for residential accommodation businesses. These figures include care homes, as well as hotels, bed and breakfasts and other holiday accommodation providers.
	
		
			   Bankruptcies  Compulsory liquidations  Voluntary liquidations  Annual total 
			 1997 154 24 0 178 
			 1998 125 31 0 156 
			 1999 100 39 0 139 
			 2000 100 42 0 142 
			 2001 76 23 0 96 
			 2002 67 31 39 137 
			 2003 72 25 27 124 
			 2004 42 14 34 90 
			 2005 42 22 37 101 
			 2006 (first three quarters) 33 15 30 78 
		
	
	These are national figures, and regional analyses are not maintained. HM Revenue and Customs' trade intelligence shows that 750 new hotel and bed and breakfast businesses have started trading in the same period since 1997.

Monuments: Legislation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward legislation to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to require public consultation when there is an application for Scheduled Monument Consent.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Under the 1979 Act, the Secretary of State is required, before determining whether or not to grant Scheduled Monument Consent, to afford to the applicant, and any other person to whom it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to afford it, an opportunity of making representations. The Secretary of State is obliged to consider any representations made to him by any person on that application and also to consult English Heritage.
	As set out in the White Paper, Heritage Protection for the 21st Century (March 2007), the Government plan to merge Scheduled Monument Consent and Listed Building Consent, to create a new historic asset consent, administered, in the first instance, by the Local Planning Authority. In respect of assets which were previously scheduled monuments the Local Planning Authority would be required to consult English Heritage and the national amenity societies on any application, and to take into consideration any representations received from these and any other parties, before determining a consent application.
	Primary legislation will be required to implement the proposals set out in the White Paper, and we plan to publish a draft Heritage Protection Bill in the next session.

Olympic Games: Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding has been allocated to a tourism strategy for the 2012 Olympics.

Margaret Hodge: The Government recognise the importance of tourism to the success of the 2012 games, and to their economic legacy. VisitBritain's activities in marketing and working in partnership with the industry will form a major part of the forthcoming tourism strategy for the games, and appropriate levels of funding for this work will be allocated in the context of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.

Tourism: Foot and Mouth Disease

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made by the Government of the impact on tourism caused by the recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The Government worked closely with the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group (Chaired by Visit Britain) in monitoring the impact on tourism and in ensuring that both visitors and those providing visitor attractions had accurate information about access to the countryside, thus minimising any adverse impact.
	Monitoring by Tourism South East suggests that 88 per cent. of tourism businesses in and around the Surveillance Zones enjoyed business as usual, with only a minority of accommodation providers reporting cancellations or falls in advance bookings. Animal based attractions and events such as agricultural shows and farmers' markets were mainly affected by putting precautions in place, and animal based events elsewhere in the country were affected by the ban on certain animal movements.
	It is not possible to quantify the impact further as the outbreak coincided with wet weather and severe flooding, which were considered to have a greater impact on tourism. In recognition of the cumulative impact of these events on rural areas, on 14 August the Government announced a £1 million campaign to support the domestic tourism industry, particularly in the countryside and those regions affected by flooding.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities: Political Activities

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department's Ministers have met Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to discuss the rules relating to political campaigning by charities.

Phil Hope: h olding answer 10 September 2007
	 Cabinet Office Ministers have not met Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to discuss the rules relating to political campaigning by charities.

Ministers

David Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Government  (a) Departments and  (b) Ministers there were in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office publishes a "List of Ministerial Responsibilities" after significant changes to the Government and Ministers' responsibilities. Smaller changes are published as necessary, by way of amendments to the list. Copies of previous editions of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities" are available for reference in the Libraries of the House.

Olympic Games: Greater London

John Whittingdale: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the likelihood that the proposed venue for Olympic shooting events at the Royal Artillery Barracks will meet the necessary safety requirement for clay-pigeon shooting; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is continuing its work to assess further the precise design requirements for the temporary shooting venue at the Royal Artillery Barracks. This includes a full examination of the necessary safety requirements and all the facilities will meet both local and international safety standards. This work is still in progress.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she has taken to ensure that small businesses benefit from the 2012 Olympics; and what estimate has been made of the number of small businesses who will benefit from these games.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will buy and manage up to 2,000 direct contracts with businesses who will in turn manage up to 50,000 agreements across their own supply chains. The ODA estimates that approximately half of the contracts that have been awarded to date have gone to SMEs and intends to issue details of the exact number and an analysis of contracts issued in the near future. Contracts will be awarded to those judged to be the best suppliers and service providers. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is mobilising its full range of business support tools, such as its Business Link services, available in all English regions. Similar support services are available in the devolved Administrations. This helps those companies who wish to get fit to supply, not just games-related contracts but also the 125 billion per annum public procurement opportunities.
	All businesses can register their interest in these contracts on the business section of the ODA's website www.london2012.com/business which details all contract opportunities and includes advance notice of future opportunities. The ODA published in June 2007 its Supplier Guide for businesses interested in pursuing Olympic-related contracts, also available online.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assistance is being provided to employers in London in relation to training local people, in respect of the skills and services that will be required in preparing for and staging the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 The London Employers Accord pilots will link the skills needs of employers with training providers to provide job ready employees. It offers a flexible and employer-led recruitment channel in return for employers' commitment to those furthest away from the labour market. The pilots involve approximately 20 companies across nine sectors, including construction and hospitality. As the Prime Minister stated at the TUC conference on Monday 10 September we anticipate that this will help around 5,000 Londoners into work by 2012.
	In addition, the Train to Gain service run by the Learning and Skills Council is designed to help SMEs get the training they need to succeed. It gives every employer access to a free skills brokerage service offering independent and impartial advice and matching training needs with training providers.
	A significant amount of activity is also under way, through the Local Employment and Skills Taskforce Action Plan, to help train local people for 2012 across many sectors including construction and hospitality.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many public affairs consultancies have been shortlisted for the position of London 2012 Public Affairs Advisor; and whether any of those agencies have declared  (a) a party political donation to the Labour Party in the last three years and  (b) attendance at the Labour Party fundraiser at Wembley in July as part of the tendering process.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is currently undertaking a procurement process for public affairs services and support. LOCOG is a privately financed company.
	In line with the commitment they have made to extending the opportunities created by the games as widely as possible, LOCOG openly invited all relevant companies to tender through its website. LOCOG is committed to conducting a fair procurement process.
	From a list of 28 companies that expressed an interest and submitted a pre-qualification questionnaire, nine have been invited to tender. It would be inappropriate for LOCOG to disclose the names of parties on that list while the procurement process is ongoing. In relation to parts  (a) and  (b); these specific questions have not been asked as part of the tender, and therefore will form no part of the evaluation. However all applicants must declare any conflicts of interest, and outline the code of ethics to which they subscribe.

V Charity: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster following the Final Report of the Third Sector Review, how much in public funds was allocated to 'v'  (a) in each financial year since it was established and  (b) in each year covered by the comprehensive spending review 2007.

Phil Hope: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The youth volunteering organisation, v, was launched in May 2006, following the recommendations of the Russell Commission report on youth action and engagement, published in March 2005.
	In the financial year 2006-07, 25,643,000 was allocated to v. This includes 7.5 million provided on a match funded basis with the private sector.
	In the financial year 2007-08, just over 39 million is allocated to v. This includes funding for the Millennium Volunteers programme. In addition to this, there is funding available to v to be provided on a match funded basis with the private sector.
	The initial funding, allocated to the implementation of the recommendations of the Russell Commission report on youth action and engagement, announced in Budget 2005 was for the 2004 spending review period.
	As set out in the final report of the review of the third sector in social and economic regeneration, published in July 2007, the Government will invest around 117 million in v over the 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR) years, which includes funding for the successor to the Millennium Volunteers programme. This 117 million is currently expected to be allocated on the basis of 39 million in each of the CSR years.
	The Government will in addition maintain the arrangement where they match contributions from the private sector over the 2007 CSR years.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which organisations have been allocated funds from the Office of the Third Sector Strategic Partners Programme in 2007-08; and how much each organisation has been allocated.

Phil Hope: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The Strategic Partners Programme began in April 2006 and the names of all partners were publicised at the time of their awards and are available on the Cabinet Office website. Strategic funding is highly valued by the sector. It represents long-term cooperation between Government and the sector.
	In 2007-08 the following organisations have been allocated funds by Office of the Third Sector under the Strategic Partners Programme (2007-08). They are:
	
		
			
			 Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) 205,000 
			 BASSAC 151,225 
			 Charities Evaluation Service 151,036 
			 Charity Trustee Networks 92,250 
			 Community Action Network (CAN) 120,694 
			 Community Development Exchange (CDX) 246,441 
			 Community Matters 255,223 
			 Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender VCOs 92,250 
			 Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) 256,250 
			 Development Trusts Association (DTA) 142,072 
			 Foyer Federation 115,313 
			 National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) 414,394 
			 Scarman Trust 153,750 
			 National Councils for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) 236,237 
			 Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) 205,000 
			 Urban Forum 93,788 
			 Voice 4 Change England 256,250 
			 Third Sector European Network 82,256 
			 Church Urban Fund 88,329 
			 Faith Action 256,250 
			 Women's Resource Centre 192,188 
			 National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) 1,014,887 
			 Community Service Volunteers (CSV) 1,025,000 
			 BTCV 307,500 
			 Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF) 1,025,000 
			 TimeBank 512,500 
			 Volunteering England 1,537,500 
			 Association of Charitable Foundations 123,000 
			 Beacon Fellowship Trust 92,300 
			 Institute of Fundraising 256,300 
			 Citizenship Foundation 205,000 
			 Community Foundation Network 205,000 
			 British Youth Council 92,300 
			 National Youth Agency 307,500 
			 Youth Action Network 153,800 
			 YouthNet 461,300 
			 V 2,050,000 
			 Plunkett Foundation 62,000 
			 Social Enterprise Coalition 557,000 
			 Social Enterprise London 92,000 
			 School for Social Entrepreneurs 70,000 
			 Social Firms UK 101,000 
			 Co-operatives UK 107,000 
			 Prowess 30,000 
			 Women's Royal Voluntary Service 1,000,000

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the level of Government funding was for the main voluntary sector umbrella groups in each financial year since 1996-97.

Phil Hope: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The amount of funding provided by the Office of the Third Sector (and formerly the Active Communities Directorate pre 2006-07) is as follows:
	
		
			
			 1998-99 3,055,412 
			 1999-2000 3,816,680 
			 00-01 3,917,562 
			 01-02 3,496,180 
			 02-03 2,038,373 
			 03-04 5,554,838 
			 04-05 6,896,491 
			 05-06 10,603,062 
			 06-07 10,073,002 
			 07-08 7,895,905 
			 Total 57,347,505 
		
	
	These figures include funding to umbrella organisations defined as national voluntary and community sector organisations (VCS) who provide support to their members (other VCS organisations).
	The above includes strategic funding to VCS umbrella groups and different project grants for specific purposes. For example, significant grants to umbrella organisations:
	in 2005-06 for start of infrastructure development before the creation of CapacityBuilders NDPB to co-ordinate capacity building funding;
	a one-off grant in 2006-07 to the Scout Association to fund the celebration of the association's centenary.

TREASURY

Armed Forces: Compensation

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a windfall tax on the armaments industry to fund  (a) enhanced compensation payments for members of the armed forces injured in Afghanistan and Iraq and  (b) charities engaged in assisting serving and former members of the armed forces and their families.

Andy Burnham: We have no plans to introduce such a tax.

Bank Notes: Scotland

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many complaints he has received on non-acceptance of Scottish bank notes in other home nations of the UK in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total value of transactions using Scottish bank notes in the UK, excluding Scotland, in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what recent estimate he has made of the total value of Scottish bank notes in circulation in the UK, excluding Scotland;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to promote the acceptance of Scottish bank notes by retailers in home nations of the UK other than Scotland; and what legislation governs the issue and usage of Scottish bank notes across the UK.

Angela Eagle: Between 2002 and 2007 the Treasury has received a total of 63 complaints regarding the non-acceptance of Scottish bank notes in England and Wales.
	No estimate has been made by the Treasury of the value of Scottish banknotes used in UK transactions.
	No estimate has been made of the value of Scottish banknotes in the UK excluding Scotland.
	Responsibility for promoting recognition and encouraging the acceptance of Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes lies with the issuing banks.
	The acceptability of any banknotes will be influenced by the parties' familiarity with the banknotes and consequent ability to authenticate them as genuine as well as their ability to obtain value for the banknote.
	The four banknote denominations issued by the Bank of England account for around 90 per cent. of banknotes issued in the United Kingdom. In contrast, the three commercial note issuing banks in Scotland and four in Northern Ireland collectively issue 39 banknotes designs. Consequently, some Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes may not be as readily recognised and accepted in England and Wales as Bank of England banknotes.
	Powers for the Scottish issuing banks to issue notes are set out in the Bank Notes (Scotland) Act 1845.

Child Benefit: EC Nationals

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent estimate is of the annual cost of paying child benefit to EU nationals who are resident in the UK though their children are not.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 May 2007,  Official Report, column 951W, to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase (Dr. Wright).

Child Benefit: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many children in  (a) Yorkshire and Humber and  (b) City of York child benefit was received (i) in 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the weekly value of child benefit was in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest date for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: August 1999 is the earliest date for which child benefit data are available below national level.
	The following table shows the number of children for whom child benefit was claimed in  (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and  (b) City of York in August 1999 and August 2006.
	
		
			  Number of children for whom child benefit was claimed: August 1999 and August 2006 
			  Thousands 
			   Yorkshire and the Humber  City of York 
			 August 1999 1,129.7 36.0 
			 August 2006 1,113.1 34.8 
		
	
	The weekly value of child benefit in 1996-97 was 10.80 for the first child and 8.80 for each subsequent child. In 2006-07 these rates were 17.45 and 11.70 respectively.

Child Benefit: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in  (a) Yorkshire and Humber and  (b) the City of York received child benefit (i) in 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; what the weekly value is of child benefit; and what it was in 1997.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 13 September (UIN 152206).

Civil Servants: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent civil servants were employed in City of York by each Government Department or Executive agency in each year since 1996-97.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 September 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many full-time equivalent civil servants were employed in City of York by each Government department or executive agency in each year since 1996-97. (155491)
	Civil Service employment statistics are published only at the level of the Government Offices for the Regions. In order to provide the information requested for York, an ad hoc analysis has been required. This analysis is based on the Mandate survey which currently provides approximately 90 per cent coverage of Civil Service departments and agencies. For years prior to 2003 the coverage is lower. For comparison purposes, employment numbers for the Yorkshire and Humber region are therefore presented alongside the statistics for York i) as published for the total Civil Service and ii) as available from the Mandate survey. The breakdown by department and agency (as available from Mandate) is provided in the attached spreadsheet.
	
		
			  Civil Service EmploymentPermanent Non-Industrial Employees 1997-2006 
			  Year (1 April unless otherwise stated)  Civil ServiceYorkshire and The Humber  Civil Service (Mandate only)Yorkshire and The Humber  Civil Service (Mandate only)York 
			 1997 32,270 17,350 1,560 
			 1998 32,010 17,450 1,460 
			 1999 31,860 17,320 1,490 
			 2000 33,060 18,120 1,630 
			 2001 33,890 19,370 1,760 
			 2002 35,050 22,490 2,140 
			 2003 35,570 25,190 2,420 
			 2004 39,140 27,270 2,760 
			 2005 38,670 34,200 2,850 
			 2006 (30 September) 36,920 33,160 2,680 
		
	
	
		
			  Department name  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Attorney General's Departments   
			 Crown Prosecution Service 140 140 150 150 160 180 170 200 270 300 
			 Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 10 10 10 
			 Treasury Solicitor's n/a n/a n/a n/a 30 * n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  Ministry of Justice   
			 Ministry of Justice (excl. agencies) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * * * n/a 
			 HM Courts Service 40 40 30 30 30 40 40 40 40 n/a 
			 HM Land Registry 90 130 140 150 150 150 150 130 130 120 
			
			  Ministry of Defence( 1)   
			 Ministry of Defence (including Royal Fleet Auxiliary) 460 300 280 170 180 190 200 220 230 570 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation 10 * * * * n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Defence Secondary Care Agency (MOD) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 MOD Police (MOD) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * 70 100 n/a 
			 RAF Training Group Defence (MOD) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * * n/a 
			 Army Training and Recruiting Agency (MOD) 10 10 10 10 10 20 20 20 20 n/a 
			 Defence Communications and Services Agency (MOD) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * * * n/a 
			 Defence Estates (MOD) * * * * * * n/a 30 n/a n/a 
			 Defence Dental Agency (MOD) n/a n/a n/a * n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Army Personnel Centre (MOD) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * n/a n/a n/a 
			 Defence Vetting Agency (MOD) n/a * * 60 160 160 180 330 310 n/a 
			 Defence Housing Executive (MOD) n/a n/a 20 20 20 20 20 n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  Home Office   
			 Home Office (excl. agencies) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * 20 * 
			
			  HM Revenue and Customs   
			 Former Customs and Excise 10 20 20 10 20 20 10 10 n/a n/a 
			 Former Inland Revenue 170 170 190 210 220 210 200 220 220 190 
			 Valuation Office 40 40 30 30 30 30 30 40 40 30 
			
			  Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform   
			 Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (excluding agencies) n/a * * n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * 
			
			  Department for Education and Skills (former)   
			 Department for Education and Skills (former) n/a * n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  Department for Work and Pensions   
			 DWP Corporate and Shared Services n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 10 10 * 60 60 
			 Child Support Agency 10 10 * n/a n/a n/a * n/a n/a * 
			 Jobcentre Plus n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 240 210 
			 Pension Service n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * 280 310 20 10 
			
			  Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs   
			 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (excl. agencies) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 310 290 310 330 370 
			 Central Science Laboratory 370 400 410 550 560 600 630 620 610 600 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate 200 190 200 200 180 180 170 180 190 180 
			 State Veterinary Service n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * * 
			
			  Department for Transport   
			 Driving Standards Agency 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			
			  Communities and Local Government   
			 Ordnance Survey 10 10 * n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not applicable. * = Cells with less than five employees (but greater than zero) are suppressed. (1) MOD provided consolidated figures for 2006.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been appointed to his Department outside Civil Services grades in the last 30 days.

Angela Eagle: Two temporary workers were hired between 25 June and 25 July 2007.

Departments: Minister for Women

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) ministerial committees and  (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by the Treasury to liaise with the Ministers for Women.

Angela Eagle: No ministerial committees or permanent groups of senior civil servants have been set up to liaise with the Ministers for Women. As with all cross cutting issues, Ministers and officials in this Department liaise with the Ministers for Women as necessary.

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which periodicals his Department subscribes.

Angela Eagle: Records show HM Treasury Library subscribes to the following periodicals on behalf of the Department:
	 Periodicals
	 Brookings Papers on Economic Activity
	 Bulletin for International Taxation
	 Business Week
	 Cambridge Journal of Economics
	 Civil Service Yearbook
	 Computing
	 Contemporary Economic Policy
	 Der Spiegel
	 Discussion Papers of the Centre for Economic Policy Research
	 Dod's Companion
	 Econlit
	 Econometric Theory
	 Econometrica
	 Economic Affairs
	 Economic and Financial Review
	 Economic Inquiry
	 Economic Issues
	 Economic Journal  Econometrics Journal
	 Economic Modelling
	 Economic Outlook
	 Economic Policy
	 EconomicaOxford
	 Economics Letters
	 Economist
	 Financial Accountability and Management
	 Financial Adviser
	 Fiscal Studies
	 Forbes
	 Foreign AffairsPalm Coast
	 IDS HR Studies  IDS HR Study Plus
	 IDS Pay Report
	 International Economic Review
	 International Journal of Public Sector Management
	 International Tax and Public Finance
	 Investors Chronicle
	 Journal of Comparative Economics
	 Journal of Econometrics
	 Journal of Economic Literature  American Economic Review  Journal of Economic Perspective
	 Journal of Finance
	 Journal of Financial Economics
	 Journal of International Economics
	 Journal of Macroeconomics
	 Journal of Money Credit and Banking
	 Journal of Policy Analysis and Management
	 Journal of Political Economy
	 Journal of Public Economics
	 Money Facts
	 Municipal Journal
	 Natwest SBRteam Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain
	 NBER Technical Working PapersNational Bureau of Economic Research
	 NBER Working Papers  NBER Reporter  NBER Digest
	 New Scientist
	 New Statesman
	 OECD Economic Studies
	 Oxford Bulletin of Economics And Statistics
	 Oxford Review of Economic Policy
	 Parliamentary Affairs
	 People Management
	 Political Quarterly
	 Private Eye
	 Public Finance
	 Public Money and Management
	 Public Servant
	 Quarterly Journal of Economics
	 Review of Economic Studies
	 Review of Economics And Statistics
	 Scientific American
	 Spectator
	 SustainBuilt Environment Matters
	 Time
	 Times Educational Supplement
	 Trade Finance
	 Vacher's Quarterly
	 Which
	 World Economics
	HM Treasury teams are permitted to subscribe directly to periodicals of specific interest to their area. A centralised list of such titles can be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on  (a) staff training and  (b) communication training in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury spent 1,716,000 on staff training during 2006-07, including any communication training. A separate figure for spending on communication training could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties

Janet Dean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will abolish the differential between the duty paid on cider and that paid on beer;
	(2)  what the reasons are for the differential between the duty payable on cider and that paid on beer; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the differential on the level of sales of each product in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: Decisions about the appropriate levels of excise duty are made on a Budget-by-Budget basis, taking into account all relevant factors.

Forfeiture: Motor Vehicles

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines are given to Customs officers on the impounding of vehicles.

Jane Kennedy: Customs officers are instructed that a vehicle may be seized if it is or has been used to carry goods that are liable to forfeiture or if it is constructed, adapted, altered or fitted for the purpose of concealing goods and is or has been within the limits of a port, aerodrome or while in Northern Ireland, within the prescribed area.
	Where a vehicle has been used to carry excise goods from another member state that are not for own use, but instead are intended to be sold to others on a reimbursement basis, then provided there are no aggravating circumstances and it is the first offence, Officers are instructed not to seize the vehicle but to warn the driver and owner that it is liable to forfeiture.
	If a vehicle has been used to carry prohibited items then, providing the quantities involved are small and the vehicle was incidental to the offence, officers are instructed the vehicle should not normally be seized.
	Where any vehicle has been seized, it maybe restored under the powers set out in section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, subject to such terms and conditions as the Commissioners may think fit.
	Anyone who has goods or a vehicle seized and wishes to claim they were not liable to forfeiture may challenge the legality of the seizure by writing to any HMRC office with details of their claim within one month of the seizure. Anyone who requests restoration and is unhappy with the decision they receive may ask for that decision to be reviewed and, if still dissatisfied, may appeal the decision to the VAT and Duties Tribunal.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projections the Government have made of levels of net immigration in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2013,  (c) 2018 and  (d) 2023; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 September 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding what projections have been made for net in-migration for the years (a) 2008 (b) 2013 (c) 2018 and (d) 2023. (155542)
	The most recent assumptions made about the future level of migration are those published in October 2005 as part of the 2004-based national population projections. A long-term assumption of net inward migration of 145,000 was made for the United Kingdom. This assumption applies from 2007-08 onwards and therefore all of the years listed above have a projected net in-migration of 145,000.
	New assumptions will be made for the 2006-based national population projections. Details of these assumptions will be released in the next edition of Population Trends, on 27 September 2007. The 2006-based population projections will be published on the National Statistics website on 23 October 2007.

Immigration: EC Enlargement

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people from the 2004 EU accession countries entered the UK in each year since the accession, broken down by country of origin; what the average length of stay was estimated to be of such visitors; and how many have subsequently returned to their home country.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 September 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the number of people from the 2004 EU Accession Countries who entered the UK in each year by country of origin, what the average length of stay was estimated to be for such visitors, and how many have subsequently returned to their home country. (155571)
	Visits to the UK by overseas residents are estimated from data collected on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). A visit is defined as being a stay of less than 12 months. The survey is conducted at major airports, and on major sea and tunnel routes, and the data collected are weighted up to national passenger figures provided by CAA and BAA, Department for Transport, Eurotunnel and Eurostar.
	The IPS is a continuous survey carried out throughout the year. Approximately 1 in 500 passengers passing through airports, seaports and die tunnel are sampled and both overseas residents and UK residents are interviewed. The survey measures the numbers of visits to the UK by overseas residents and overseas by UK residents and how much is spent on each of these visits. As it measures visits, any one person travelling a number of times will be counted each time they travel.
	The information contained within the attached table shows the estimated number of visits by residents of those countries who joined the European Union in 2004, and the average length of visit.
	Those people entering the UK who stay for 12 months or more are defined as long term international in-migrants and are treated separately from visitors (staying under 12 months). Estimates of AS migration by country of last residence, for 2004 and 2005 are available from the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=507, Table 2.2
	Estimates for 2006 will-be published on 15 November 2007.
	No data are available on the numbers of migrants who subsequently return to their country of previous residence. Data on numbers of out-migrants in any year to A8 countries are available from the link above.
	
		
			  Estimated number of visits to the United Kingdom by residents of the 2004 EU accession countries and average length of stay, 2004-06 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			   Number of visits (thousand)  Average length of stay (nights)  Number of visits (thousand)  Average length of stay (nights)  Number of visits (thousand)  Average length of stay (nights) 
			 Malta 58 9 53 8 57 8 
			 Southern Cyprus 98 12 99 12 105 11 
			 Slovenia 66 5 55 4 68 14 
			 The Czech State 274 7 292 9 323 12 
			 Slovakia 63 8 148 17 242 13 
			 Hungary 188 10 274 10 278 9 
			 Poland 528 22 1,041 20 1,326 17 
			 Estonia 21 5 36 3 41 5 
			 Latvia 30 15 68 27 89 16 
			 Lithuania 83 30 134 30 148 10

Taxation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate  (a) direct and  (b) indirect taxes as a percentage of gross income for households with an income (i) lower and (ii) higher than (A) 95 per cent. of all households, (B) 99 per cent. of all households, (C) 75 per cent. of all households and (D) 25 per cent. of all households for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 September 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate  (a) direct and  (b) indirect taxes as a percentage of gross income for households with an income (i) lower and (ii) higher than (A) 95 per cent of all households, (B) 99 per cent of all households, (C) 75 per cent of all households and (D) 25 per cent of all households for each year since 1997. (155376)
	Estimates of household income and payments of direct and indirect taxes appear in the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. The latest analysis for 2005/06 was published, on the National Statistics website on 17th May 2007 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits The analysis is based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey, which is a survey of approximately 7,000 households in the UK. The estimates of direct and indirect tax payments for the groups of households requested, have been calculated from the data underlying the annual taxes and benefits analyses., and these estimates appear in the table below.
	Gross income includes income from wages, occupational pensions, self-employment income, investment income, and income from state benefits. Direct taxes include income tax, national insurance contributions and council tax. The indirect taxes include VAT, duties, and a number of smaller items such as television licences. Indirect taxes also include intermediate taxesthese are indirect taxes paid by companies which are deemed to be passed onto households through the prices they pay for goods and services. A more detailed breakdown showing each of the different taxes appears in the annual article.
	Indirect taxes, when expressed as a proportion of gross income appears particularly high for those on lower income, although this result needs to be interpreted carefully. Estimates of indirect taxes are estimated based on household expenditure. It should be remembered that measured expenditure will not necessarily balance with measured income for the year. This is especially true for low income households where average measured income is significantly lower than average measured expenditure. For these households, indirect taxes (which reflect expenditure) are not being met solely from current income, and so indirect taxes are very high when expressed as a proportion of gross income.
	There are a number of possible reasons why for some households expenditure might exceed income. Households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In addition, the lower income households in particular include some groups who have, or report, very little income, for example, self-employed people starting a business or someone who has just been made redundant. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EFS e,g. inheritance and severance payments are regarded as lump sums and therefore are not considered to be current income. In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income because of timing differences.
	The annual effects of taxes and benefits article is focused primarily on the differential effect of taxes and benefits on different parts of the income distribution, rather than on changes over time. There have been some changes to the way in which the figures are compiled. Up until 2001/02, charges for water, environmental and sewage services were treated as local taxes, whereas from 2002/03 onwards they were excluded. The local tax category now just includes council tax and Northern Ireland rates.
	There was also a change to the way that tax credits were treated. Up until 2002/03 tax credits were treated as cash benefits. From 2003/04, they are classified as negative income tax, but only to the extent that income tax less tax credits remains greater than or equal to zero for each family. So for households paying relatively little or no income tax, tax credit payments are still regarded either partially or wholly, as cash benefits. The effect of these changes would be a small reduction in the calculated tax burden in the years following these changes.
	Figures for the top 1% of households in particular should be treated with some caution, as they are based on a small sub-sample of the survey. These estimates will be more affected by sampling variability.
	
		
			  Taxes as a percentage of gross income( 1) , United Kingdom, 1996-97-2005-06 
			  Percentage 
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Indirect taxes( 2)   
			 Households below the 99th percentile 17 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 15 15 
			 Households above the 99th percentile 6 6 7 7 7 5 6 6 6 7 
			
			 Households below the 95th percentile 17 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 
			 Households above the 95th percentile 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 
			
			 Households below the 75th percentile 20 20 20 20 20 19 19 19 18 18 
			 Households above the 75th percentile 12 12 13 12 13 11 12 11 11 11 
			
			 Households below the 25th percentile 26 27 26 27 28 28 26 26 25 25 
			 Households above the 25th percentile 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 13 
			
			  Direct taxes( 3)   
			 Households below the 99th percentile 20 20 20 20 21 21 19 20 20 20 
			 Households above the 99th percentile 24 25 25 22 19 22 26 25 26 24 
			
			 Households below the 95th percentile 19 19 20 20 20 20 19 19 19 20 
			 Households above the 95th percentile 23 25 25 24 23 25 25 25 25 26 
			
			 Households below the 75th percentile 17 17 18 17 18 17 16 17 17 17 
			 Households above the 75th percentile 23 23 24 23 23 24 23 24 24 24 
			
			 Households below the 25th percentile 10 12 10 11 12 12 9 10 10 10 
			 Households above the 25th percentile 21 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 22 
			
			  Total taxes   
			 Households below the 99th percentile 37 37 37 37 38 37 35 36 35 35 
			 Households above the 99th percentile 30 31 32 29 26 27 32 31 32 31 
			
			 Households below the 95th percentile 36 37 38 38 38 37 36 36 35 36 
			 Households above the 95th percentile 32 34 34 33 32 33 34 33 34 35 
			
			 Households below the 75th percentile 37 37 38 37 38 36 35 36 35 35 
			 Household s above the 75th percentile 35 35 37 35 36 35 35 35 35 35 
			
			 Households below the 25th percentile 36 39 36 38 40 40 35 36 35 35 
			 Households above the 25th percentile 36 37 36 36 36 35 35 35 35 35 
			 (1) Households are ranked by equivalised disposable income.  (2) Includes VAT, vehicle excise duty and taxes on tobacco, alcohol and hydrocarbon oil.  (3) Income tax, employees' national insurance contributions (including tax relief at source on life assurance premiums) and council tax and Northern Ireland rates after deducting discounts.   Source:  Office for National Statistics.

Valuation Office: ICT

Alistair Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the value for money of the Aspire contract in relation to services provided to the Valuation Office Agency.

Jane Kennedy: The Aspire contract is output based and the value for money of this type of contract was assessed under the original competition. To ensure value for money is maintained there is a rolling benchmark programme to measure Aspire charges against the market.

VAT: Home Information Packs

Alistair Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 400W, on VAT: home information packs, if he will list each  (a) authorised and  (b) required item of a home information pack that is liable for VAT if included.

Jane Kennedy: The normal VAT liability rules will apply when the constituent parts of a Home Information Pack (HIP) are purchased from a VAT registered business. VAT will usually be chargeable, although local authority and Land Registry search fees are normally VAT free.
	VAT will also be due on any fee charged by a VAT registered agent in connection with the compilation of a HIP.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mike Wood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of the cost of administering the  (a) working and  (b) child tax credit systems that relates directly to the updating of claims.

Jane Kennedy: Information on administrative costs for tax credits can be seen in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report on HM Revenue and Customs 2006-07 accounts available at
	www.nao.gov.uk.

JUSTICE

Citizens' Juries

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how participants in citizens' juries will be chosen; and who is responsible for the  (a) process and  (b) decisions.

Jack Straw: The choice of participants is dependent on the objectives for the jury and the subject matter. This might require a representative sample of the population, a random sample or perhaps particular groups as in the DCSFs recent citizens' juries which involved young people, parents, teachers and local community stakeholders.
	 (a) The Department or organisation running the citizens' jury or other engagement process will retain responsibility for the process, even when a third party may have been engaged to deliver such a process.
	 (b) Each citizens' jury or other engagement process should make clear to the participants where the final decision will be taken.

Citizens' Juries

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the operation of citizens' juries will comply with the Code of Practice on Consultation.

Jack Straw: Where the Government are consulting with the public it will comply with the Code of Practice. However, where citizens' juries are used to explore ideas and initial policy thinking rather than gain feedback on specific proposals the question of compliance or otherwise with the code may not arise. Any engagement has to be serious and help to strengthen the relationship between government and the public. This will mean adherence to good engagement principles.

Citizens' Juries

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to publish  (a) transcripts and  (b) reports of citizens' juries.

Jack Straw: The Government expect that the conclusions of citizens' juries will be made available. However decisions on whether this should be in the form of transcripts and reports is a matter for the individual Department with policy lead.

Citizens' Juries

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list the dates and subject matters of citizens' juries to be held by the Government.

Jack Straw: To date, the following citizens' juries have been or are planned to be held:
	DCSF, 6 September, considered issues affecting children.
	Home Office, 12 September, considered crime and community.
	Department of Health, 18 September, on the NHS supporting the work of the Darzi review.
	Other engagement activities are being organised as part of the Governance of Britain constitutional reform programme.

Community Service Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time for offenders joining unpaid work groups has been since January, broken down by probation area.

David Hanson: Probation service national standards require that the first work session is undertaken within 10 days of sentence. Data are collected nationally about the first appointment only where it is designated as a pre-placement work session, that is, an induction and briefing session. For those probation areas where it is available, the average number of days in the period January to June, between this session and joining the unpaid work groups is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Area  Waiting time 
			 Avon and Somerset  
			 Bedfordshire 11.8 
			 Cambridgeshire  
			 Cheshire 6.2 
			 County Durham 0 
			 Cumbria 5 
			 Derbyshire 6.2 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4.1 
			 Dorset 0 
			 Dyfed Powys 5 
			 Essex 8 
			 Gloucestershire 13.9 
			 Greater Manchester 4 
			 Gwent 6 
			 Hampshire 9 
			 Hertfordshire 3.6 
			 Humberside 6 
			 Kent 5.5 
			 Lancashire 7 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 10.8 
			 Lincolnshire  
			 London 5 
			 Merseyside 4.3 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 North Wales 1.4 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 Northamptonshire 4 
			 Northumbria 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 9.8 
			 South Wales 6.5 
			 South Yorkshire 6.2 
			 Staffordshire 3 
			 Suffolk 3 
			 Surrey 6.5 
			 Sussex 8.8 
			 Teesside 0 
			 Thames Valley 11.6 
			 Warwickshire 5.2 
			 West Mercia 0 
			 West Midlands 5 
			 West Yorkshire 5.6 
			 Wiltshire 6.5

Community Service Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unpaid work appointments have been cancelled since January, broken down by probation area.  [Official Report, 18 November 2007, Vol. 468, c. 3MC.]

David Hanson: Across all probation areas a total of 29,852 work appointments were cancelled between 1 January 2007 and 30 June 2007. This compares with 644,697 appointments which were kept, which is a cancellation rate of 4.6 per cent. The number of unpaid work appointments cancelled in each probation area is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Area  Appointment cancelled 
			 Avon and Somerset 848 
			 Bedfordshire 313 
			 Cambridgeshire 777 
			 Cheshire 1,737 
			 County Durham 41 
			 Cumbria 483 
			 Derbyshire 62 
			 Devon and Cornwall 311 
			 Dorset 164 
			 Dyfed Powys 21 
			 Essex 747 
			 Gloucestershire 182 
			 Greater Manchester 472 
			 Gwent 884 
			 Hampshire 1,927 
			 Hertfordshire 939 
			 Humberside 107 
			 Kent 1,589 
			 Lancashire 328 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 489 
			 Lincolnshire 204 
			 London 3,786 
			 Merseyside 768 
			 Norfolk 1,183 
			 North Wales 318 
			 North Yorkshire 203 
			 Northamptonshire 177 
			 Northumbria 237 
			 Nottinghamshire 301 
			 South Wales 121 
			 South Yorkshire 445 
			 Staffordshire 1,346 
			 Suffolk 959 
			 Surrey 181 
			 Sussex 657 
			 Teesside 30 
			 Thames Valley 4,287 
			 Warwickshire 34 
			 West Mercia 1,152 
			 West Midlands 1,090 
			 West Yorkshire 25 
			 Wiltshire 30

Community Service Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the adequacy of supply of unpaid work supervisors between January and August, broken down by probation area.

David Hanson: The probation Human Resources Workforce Information Report for June 2007 records that at the end of December 2006 there were 31.29 full-time equivalent vacancies related to unpaid work supervision that were the subject of an active recruitment process. These data are not broken down by probation area.

Community Service Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours of unpaid work were ordered by the courts during 2006-07.

David Hanson: There were 9,162,000 (rounded) hours of unpaid work ordered by the courts on unpaid work requirements commencing probation supervision between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007.
	This figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Community Service Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many orders for unpaid work were completed during 2006-07.

David Hanson: There were 42,210 unpaid work requirements completed during 2006-07.
	This figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Community Service Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders were sentenced to unpaid work during 2006-07.

David Hanson: There were 94,349 offenders who commenced unpaid work requirements under probation supervision during 2006-07 following sentence by the courts.
	This figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Community Service Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any national probation areas have experienced difficulties in transporting offenders to unpaid work placements since January 2007.

David Hanson: We do not collect information centrally about the transport of offenders to unpaid work placements. From time to time it is possible that difficulties may arise as a result of staff being unavailable at short notice, or mechanical difficulties with vehicles, for example.

Community Service Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders have been stood down during any period of unpaid work in  (a) North Yorkshire,  (b) Cheshire,  (c) Warwickshire,  (d) Avon and Somerset,  (e) Wiltshire,  (f) Essex,  (g) Dorset,  (h) Norfolk,  (i) Cheshire,  (j) Devon,  (k) Greater London and  (l) Gwent probation areas since January.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any unpaid work groups have been stood down in  (a) North Yorkshire,  (b) Cheshire,  (c) Warwickshire,  (d) Avon and Somerset,  (e) Wiltshire,  (f) Essex,  (g) Dorset,  (h) Norfolk,  (i) Devon,  (j) Greater London and  (k) Gwent probation area since January.

David Hanson: The total number of offenders who have been stood down from unpaid work is not available centrally, but the National Offender Management Service monitors the number of unpaid work days lost as a result of offenders being instructed in advance not to attend, or having been sent home after reporting for work, as a result of operational difficulties. This is expressed as a percentage of the total days worked. For the areas requested the percentage of days lost is as follows:
	
		
			  Probation area  Percentage  of  days lost, January to June 2007 
			 North Yorkshire 3 
			 Cheshire 12 
			 Warwickshire 0.6 
			 Avon and Somerset 8.5 
			 Wiltshire 0.5 
			 Essex 5.3 
			 Dorset 2.8 
			 Norfolk 8.8 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3.1 
			 London 4.7 
			 Gwent 10.8 
		
	
	Nationally the total number of unpaid work days lost as a result of offenders being instructed not to attend on particular days, or being stood down having reported for work is 4.8 per cent. of the total days worked.

Community Service Orders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders sentenced to unpaid work since 1 January 2007 have been unable to commence their sentences owing to a lack of supervising staff or placements.

David Hanson: Between January and the end of June national data indicate that 40,218 offenders have undertaken an initial pre-placement session of unpaid work. Of these offenders 38,808 are recorded as having received an instruction to attend for subsequent sessions of unpaid work. This would suggest that 1,410 or 3.5 per cent. of offenders did not immediately commence their sentences. Those offenders who were not instructed following the initial session of unpaid work would have been instructed to attend on a subsequent date, unless the requirement was terminated as a result of breach action, or the requirement was revoked for another reason.

Crime: Victims

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many payments of compensation to victims were ordered by courts for  (a) young and  (b) adult offenders in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many payments of compensation to victims have been made by  (a) young and  (b) adult offenders in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: The information requested on compensation orders imposed by the courts, for the years 2003-05, is contained in the following table.
	Data are collected by HM Court Service on the value of financial penalties (including compensation) paid but do not enable the number of payments to be identified.
	
		
			  Offenders( 1)  ordered to pay compensation at all courts by age group, England and Wales, 2003-05 
			  Age group  Number of offenders ordered to pay compensation 
			  Under 18  
			 2003 18,770 
			 2004 20,773 
			 2005 22,511 
			   
			  18 and over  
			 2003 101,695 
			 2004 102,470 
			 2005 109,176 
			   
			  All ages  
			 2003 120,465 
			 2004 123,243 
			 2005 131,687 
			 (1) Principal offence basis.  Source: RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Custody Plus Scheme

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to introduce Custody Plus.

David Hanson: No decision has yet been taken as to when Custody Plus will be introduced.

Departments: Delivery Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what volume of correspondence his Department sent  (a) by Royal Mail and  (b) by other commercial delivery services in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for the use of other commercial delivery services.

Maria Eagle: Since the Ministry of Justice was only formed on 9 May 2007, my response refers to the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and those bodies which were formerly part of the Home Office which are now part of the new Department.
	 DCA
	 (a) Information about the volume of correspondence sent by Royal Mail is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 (b) Regarding the use of other commercial delivery services, for the last five years the former DCA used one other licensed carrier, DX Network Services.
	Information relating to the whole of the period is not held. Information for the last two years is as follows:
	
		
			   Item 
			 2006-07 6,920,400 
			 2005-06 4,303,257 
		
	
	These figures are based on the results of an annual sampling exercise extrapolated to provide an annual usage figure.
	DX Network Services provides a cost effective and efficient mail service between courts, to the legal profession and other business addresses.
	 Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR)
	Information about the volume of correspondence sent by Royal Mail and other commercial delivery services is not available.
	 National Offender Management Service (NOMS)
	Information about the volume of correspondence sent by Royal Mail and other commercial delivery services is not available.
	 HM Prison Service (HMPS)
	Information about the volume of correspondence sent by Royal Mail and other commercial delivery services is not available.
	Postage is handled on an individual prison basis and there are no central contracts for mail collection and distribution; volumes are not recorded either.

Drugs: Misuse

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of people convicted of drug offences as a result of the Misuse of Drugs Act 2005; and how many such people have received a prison sentence.

Maria Eagle: Regulations under the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment) Order 2005 came into force on 18 July 2005 and reclassified magic mushrooms as class A drugs. The following table shows the number of defendants convicted at all courts, sentenced, and sentenced to immediate custody for drug offences related to other class A drugs in England and Wales for the years 1996-2005.
	It is not possible to identify which convictions related specifically to magic mushrooms because all offences for the less commonly used class A drugs are grouped together and therefore cannot be separately identified. Additionally, as the regulations came into force in 2005 it is likely that they would have had an impact only on the number of convictions from 2006 onwards.
	Data for 2006 will be available in the autumn.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts  for offences in relation to the production, supply, possession, and possession with intent to supply as well as the use of premises  for the production of other class A drugs, England and Wales 2001-05( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4,)( )( 5) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Sentenced  Of which:  Immediate custody 
			 1996 988 1,071 1,066 475 
			 1997 1,147 1,123 1,117 489 
			 1998 1,395 1,181 1,158 453 
			 1999 1,478 1,180 1,153 425 
			 2000(4) 1,354 1,029 1,071 382 
			 2001 1,720 1,355 1,341 500 
			 2002 2,014 1,542 1,503 538 
			 2003 1,928 1,571 1,556 561 
			 2004 1,763 1,521 1,510 625 
			 2005 1,575 1,507 1,505 570 
			 (1 )These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Offences under sections 4(2), 4(3), 0(2), 5(3) and 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 respectively.  (4) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.  (5) Does not include convictions for separately classified class A drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methadone, morphine, LSD and ecstasy.   Source:  Court proceedings databaseOffice for Criminal Justice Reform.

Electoral Systems

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Government will publish its review of electoral systems in use in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: It is anticipated that the review of voting systems will be completed by the end of the year.

Firearms: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many firearm-related offences were recorded in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 12 September 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	Firearms are taken to be involved in an incident if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person or used as a threat. The number of offences recorded by Cambridgeshire Constabulary in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used between 2001-02 and 2005-06 is given in the following table. These centrally-collected data cannot be broken down to a more local level. Figures for 2006-07 are scheduled to be published in January 2008.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used( 1) : Cambridgeshire constabulary 2001-02 to 2005-06( 2) 
			   Number of firearm offences 
			 2001-02(2) 49 
			 2002-03(3) 57 
			 2003-04 34 
			 2004-05 50 
			 2005-06 34 
			 (1) By the weapon being fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person or used in a threat.  (2) Data for 2006-07 will be published in January 2008.  (3) Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002.   Note:  The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced nationally in April 2002 and figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. Figures from 2002-03 onwards are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Legal Aid

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what contingency plans are in place to meet the needs and requirements of legal aid clients in circumstances where significant numbers of legal aid providers cease operating.

Michael Wills: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not expect significant numbers of legal aid providers to cease operating in the foreseeable future. Where providers do withdraw from legal aid work, for example when contracts are re-tendered, the LSC is well experienced in finding alternative suppliers.

Legal Aid: Fees and Charges

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research his Department has conducted on the impact of fixed legal aid fees on the provision of legal aid since the publication of Lord Carter's review of legal aid procurement in 2006.

Michael Wills: Each fixed fee scheme published by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is accompanied by an impact assessment that shows the result of internal work undertaken by the LSC. The LSC also commissioned research from Otterburn Legal Consulting Ltd which considered the impact on criminal firms of the new fee schemes.
	The LSC published the final report in April and it is available on the LSC's website at:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/consultations/Otterburn_Report-background-note2.pdf
	In addition the LSC and my Department commissioned work by NERA Economic Consulting which looks at the impact of fixed fees as part of a wider examination of the possibility of minimum thresholds for legal aid work. The LSC will publish this research on its website when the work has been finalised.

Lord Chancellor: Pay

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid to the last Lord Chancellor as a lump sum on termination of his employment.

Jack Straw: To date no payment has been made over to the former Lord Chancellor, my right hon. Friend Lord Falconer. As I told the House on 23 July, I will make a statement on this matter in due course.

Magistrates Courts: ICT

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Libra computer system will be operational in all magistrates courts in England and Wales.

Maria Eagle: Libra deployment is currently scheduled to complete in December 2008.

Mobile Phones: Driving Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) males and  (b) females have been (i) arrested and (ii) prosecuted for using their mobile phones while driving since the legislation banning their use while driving was introduced, broken down by age group.

Maria Eagle: Information requested on arrests for summary motoring offences of 'use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving' is not collected centrally.
	Available information taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, for 2004 (latest available) is provided in the following table. 2005 data will be available in the autumn of 2007.
	
		
			  Proceedings( 1,2)  at magistrates courts for offences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving( 3)  by sex and age group of offender, England and Wales, 2004( 4) 
			  Number of offences 
			  Sex  All ages  Under 18  18 and under 21  21 and under 25  25( 5)  26 and under 30  30 and under 35  35 and under 40  40 and under 50  50 and under 60  60 and over 
			 Males 728 6 35 83 148 73 152 91 92 40 8 
			 Females 61  5 5 16 11 9 7 5 3  
			 Persons 789 6 40 88 164 84 161 98 97 43 8 
			 (1) The table shows the number of offences dealt with and not the number of persons appearing in court. (2) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. (3) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2 and 110 (3). (4) The offences were introduced as from 1 December 2003. The court proceedings database records only one proceeding in that year. (5) Age 25 separate as used as a default age when date of birth is not known.  Notes: 1. In 2003 1,888 fixed penalty notices were issued for offences of 'using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving'. In 2004 the figure was 73,976. 2. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system being implemented by the Ministry of Justice reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. (3.) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used  Source: Court proceedings database held by OCJR.

Offenders: Organised Crime

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any probation areas in England and Wales have issued policy statements since 1 January 2006 on  (a) the existence of or the attitude to be taken towards gang membership and  (b) the reporting arrangements for offenders believed to be gang members or affected by gang membership.

David Hanson: No such statements have been issued, although some probation areas have developed and disseminated relevant good practice guidance. The National Offender Management Service is organising a national seminar this autumn for practitioners to share current examples of good practice and to develop a best practice guide for offender managers nationally.

Open Prisons

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people detained at open prisons have been granted permission to keep and use a car for work assignments; and how many have been convicted of  (a) murder,  (b) grievous bodily harm,  (c) sexual offences and  (d) rape;
	(2)  what criteria are taken into account when considering whether to grant a prisoner detained at an open prison permission to keep and use a car for work assignments; and whether the nature of the crime committed is taken into account.

David Hanson: Prisoners entering the open estate are subject to rigorous risk assessment. A further risk assessment is undertaken before being allowed to use a motor vehicle to attend work placements.
	Work placements are designed to promote successful reintegration into the community, reduce the likelihood of re-offending and improve the resettlement outcomes of prisoners. The resettlement regime provides prisoners with increasing levels of personal responsibility, ensures that they are tested rigorously on any risk areas in an environment closer to that found on release and in particular equips them with readily transferable skills and practical experiences which they can take to employers in their home areas once discharged.
	As at 10 September 2007, 202 prisoners in open conditions have permission to keep and use a car for work purposes under the above regime and one prisoner keeps and uses a motorcycle. Of these, 33 have been convicted of murder, seven of grievous bodily harm and one of rape and murder. Public protection is our greatest priority.

Prison Service: Public Appointments

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how managed moves authorised by the Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service are monitored; who is responsible for monitoring them; to whom they report; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There is no separate monitoring arrangement for managed appointments at senior manager level. The appointment of senior managers to operational positions, including all governor and deputy governor posts is published weekly on the Prison Service intranet. When an appointment has been managed this is clearly indicated.

Prison Service: Public Appointments

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of staff moves to  (a) deputy governor and  (b) governor grades were by managed appointment in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Out of a total of 146 vacancies in governing governor posts, since October 2003 to date, 52 governing governor posts have been appointed via managed moves (36 per cent.) and 94 as a result of open competition; out of a total of 60 deputy governor posts, 13 were appointed via managed moves (22 per cent.) and 47 via open competition.
	
		
			   Move type  Governor grades  Deputy governor  Total 
			 2003 Open competition 3 2 5 
			  Managed moved 0 0 0 
			  
			 2004 Open competition 30 11 41 
			  Managed moved 12 2 14 
			  
			 2005 Open competition 21 13 34 
			  Managed moved 11 5 16 
			  
			 2006 Open competition 27 15 42 
			  Managed moved 18 2 19 
			  
			 2007 Open competition 13 6 19 
			  Managed moved 11 4 15 
			  
			 Total Open competition 94 47 141 
			  Managed moved 52 13 65 
			  
			 Total posts filled  146 50 206 
		
	
	Figures are not available before 12 October 2003 when the Career and Succession Planning Unit was established (now Succession Management Unit). These figures do not accurately cover all deputy governor posts as the unit is only responsible for senior operational manager grades A-D. The table therefore reflects all deputy governor moves at D level or above. Figures are not held for E level deputy posts.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Companies House

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how Companies House is expected to report on its activities to  (a) the public and  (b) Parliament following the introduction of the Companies Act 2006.

Stephen Timms: Companies House will continue to report on its activities to the public and to Parliament by means of its annual report and accounts.

Departments: Aviation

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 619-20W, on Departments: Aviation, how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by officials from  (a) outside his core Department and its predecessor,  (b) the Patent Office and  (c) the Competition Commission in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost was of such flights.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 10 July 2007
	In each of the last three calendar years, the number of flights taken to overseas destinations and the cost of those flights was:
	
		
			  Competition Commission 
			   Number of Flights  Flight Costs () 
			 2006 37 31,835 
			 2005 50 36,103 
			 2004 51 31,054 
		
	
	
		
			  Intellectual Property Office (formerly Patent Office) 
			   Number of Flights  Flight Costs () 
			 2006 190 137,075 
			 2005 254 144,041 
			 2004 226 113,192 
		
	
	
		
			  National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) 
			   Number of Flights  Flight Costs () 
			 2006 2 166 
			 2005 17 2,598 
			 2004 13 1,816 
		
	
	These figures were included within the departmental figure provided in the answer of 26 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 619-20W. Figures are not available for flights taken by officials from outside the core Department and its Agencies. The figures provided are from the Department's travel agent Carlson Wagonlit. The figures do not include any flights that may be booked through other travel agents as this is not separately captured or recorded.
	The number of flights corresponds with the number of tickets issued and may include a number of flights to different destinations made on the same business trip. The number of flights may also include tickets from an overseas destination to the UK if the flight is on a different carrier from the outward flight, or if the return leg is in a different class of travel with the same or a different carrier.

Departments: Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people have been appointed to his Department outside Civil Service grades in the last 30 days.

Gareth Thomas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided at disproportionate cost only.

Electricity Generation: Wind Power

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the total cost to energy companies of supplying power lines and other infrastructure to connect wind turbines to the national grid in each of the last 10 years; and what forecast he has made of the equivalent costs over the next 10 years.

Stephen Timms: Investment in electricity networks is made by the Transmission Owners and Distribution Network Operators under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem. Investments will in most cases reflect the cumulative effect of a number of generators of all types seeking to connect.
	In terms of investment over the next few years, Ofgem have agreed 560 million of investment in the transmission network specifically to connect new renewable generation in Scotland and the North of England. In the Transmission Price Control, which covers the five year period from 1 April 2007, a further 3.8 billion of investment in the transmission network was agreed. This figure includes both refurbishment and the costs of connecting new generators of all types and may increase if warranted by generator demand.

Industrial Disputes: Arbitration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of mediated employment disputes were successfully concluded at that stage in the latest period for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: Mediation is a widely used term which covers a number of activities related to the resolution of disputes or the management of conflict. ACAS staff are involved in working in a number of areas which sit under this umbrella term. These are:
	Conciliation in employment tribunal cases
	Conciliation in collective disputes
	Mediation in work-place disputes
	Mediation in collective disputes.
	 Conciliation in employment tribunal cases
	In almost all cases where a claim is submitted to an employment tribunal, ACAS has a statutory duty to promote a resolution that both sides find acceptable instead of going to a tribunal hearing.
	In 2006-07 ACAS received a total of 105,177 employment tribunal claims for conciliation. During the same period 38 per cent. of claims were subject to a legally binding settlement brokered by ACAS, 31 per cent. of claims were withdrawn following discussion of the case with the ACAS conciliator, and 27 per cent. of claims proceeded to an employment tribunal for hearing. 4 per cent. of claims were disposed of in other ways.
	During the period, and in addition, ACAS brokered a resolution to 57,476 potential claims, of which 56,159 were potential local authority equal pay claims.
	 Conciliation in collective disputes
	ACAS also assists parties to resolve their differences where a dispute arises between an employer and trades union or other work force representation group, or between groups of workers.
	In 2006-07 ACAS was involved in 912 collective disputes. During the same period, 835 were completed, 91 per cent. successfully.
	 Mediation in work  place disputes
	In 2006-07 ACAS accepted 134 individual work place disputes for mediation. 99 of these were resolved through mediation, and in a further eight cases progress was made, giving a total success rate of 80 per cent.
	 Mediation in collective disputes
	Where a collective dispute is resolved by means of a reference to an independent mediator who is empowered to write a formal report making recommendations, ACAS will appoint a mediator from its list of independent arbitrator/mediators.
	In 2006-07 ACAS received two requests for collective mediation, both of which were resolved.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 16 July on a constituent, Ref 625784; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The response to my hon. Friend was delayed by administrative issues. The response was sent on 11 September 2007.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 5 July on a constituent, Ref 624991; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The response to my hon. Friend was delayed by administrative issues. The response from my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal Services was sent on 12 September 2007.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from  (a) the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,  (b) other Government departments,  (c) the private sector and  (d) non-governmental organisations on proposed stakeholder participation in developing policies to meet the UK's commitment to the EU 20 per cent. renewable energy target; and what recent changes his Department has made to its plans.

Stephen Timms: The Government have received two requests from industry to set up a 2020 renewables taskforce. Rather than setting up a new body we are now working with the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB), which was set up to improve Government understanding of the obstacles and opportunities for the development of renewable technologies in the UK. The Government have also received correspondence calling for a transparent process of policy development. This is entirely in line with our plans for a full and transparent public consultation following publication of the draft Renewables Directive by the European Commission.

Renewable Energy

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the renewables obligation will be banded in order to provide different levels of support for different renewable energy technologies.

Stephen Timms: Yes. We confirmed in the Energy White Paper 2007 our intention to introduce banding.
	A consultation on the reform of the renewables obligation including the practicalities of implementing a banded system closed on 6 September 2007 and we will be considering the responses to this consultation before setting out our response.

Seals: Animal Products

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will introduce a national ban on the import and sale of seal products.

Gareth Thomas: National measures would be impossible to enforce under EU single market rules so the Government are instead pressing hard for EU-wide action. The European Commission is currently conducting a study of the Canadian seal hunt in order to assess the need for EU-wide measures.

Wind Power

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many wind turbines were installed in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years; what total installed wind turbine capacity was in each such year; and what forecast he has made of such capacity in each of the next 10 years.

Stephen Timms: The Department does not keep statistics on the number of wind turbines installed though we do have figures for the number of wind farm sites for the past eight years and the installed capacity from wind farms for the past 10 years.
	These figures are published annually in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) and can be found in the following tables:
	
		
			  Number of sites 
			   Onshore wind  Offshore wind  Total 
			 1999 91 0 91 
			 2000 104 0 104 
			 2001 108 1 109 
			 2002 115 1 116 
			 2003 184 3 187 
			 2004 168 4 172 
			 2005 206 5 211 
			 2006 327 6 333 
		
	
	
		
			  Installed capacity (MWe), end December each year 
			   Wind (onshore)  Wind (offshore)  Total 
			 1997 321.68  322 
			 1998 331.32  331 
			 1999 356.99  357 
			 2000 408.0 3.8 412 
			 2001 423.4 3.8 427 
			 2002 530.6 3.8 534 
			 2003 678.4 63.8 742 
			 2004 809.4 123.8 933 
			 2005 1,351.2 213.8 1,565 
			 2006 1,650.7 303.8 1,955 
		
	
	BERR does not have forecasts on the capacity of wind turbines over the next 10 years. Based on the Energy White Paper central case, the projected wind capacity figuresfor installed capacityand rounded to the nearest whole number, are:
	2010: 5 GW
	2015: 11 GW and
	2020: 13 GW.

Wind Power: Subsidies

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the total subsidy paid to the owners of wind turbines under the Renewables Obligation Certificate Scheme has been in each of the last 10 years; and what forecast he has made of such payments for each of the next 10 years.

Stephen Timms: The Renewables Obligation does not pay a direct subsidy to generators but instead places an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers to source a specific and annually increasing proportion of their sales from renewable sources. Suppliers meet their obligation by presenting Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) which are issued to generators for eligible renewable generation; paying a buy-out price; or a combination of both. Money from the buy-out fund is recycled pro-rata to suppliers presenting ROCs.
	The ROC price is therefore set by the market but a nominal value of the ROC to the supplier can be calculated by adding the buy-out price to the recycled buy-out fund attributable to each ROC. Multiplying this by the number of ROCs issued for wind generated renewable electricity gives an indication of the support provided.
	The Renewables Obligation came into force for 2002-03 so figures are not available before that date. For 2002-03 to 2004-05 the figures are finalised and for 2005-06 the figures are estimated. The figures going forward are based on estimated wind generation and ROC price as part of a modelling framework developed for us by Oxera Consulting Ltd and published alongside our recent consultation on reform of the Renewables Obligation.
	
		
			   Wind generated renewable electricity (TWh)  Equivalent support provided (  m illion ) 
			 2002-03 1.1 53.5 
			 2003-04 1.3 69.3 
			 2004-05 2.0 96.6 
			 2005-06 2.8 120.4 
			 2006-07 4.2 210.4 
			 2007-08 5.3 257.5 
			 2008-09 6.5 300.5 
			 2009-10 10.6 529.3 
			 2010-11 14.5 659.9 
			 2011-12 18.1 802.6 
			 2012-13 22.7 1,016.1 
			 2013-14 25.0 1,117.9 
			 2014-15 27.3 1,218.3 
			 2015-16 29.1 1,299.2 
			 2016-17 30.1 1,337.2 
			 2017-18 30.9 1,371.3

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) documents and  (b) procedures govern the relationship between the Department and the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 July 2007
	The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Departmental Framework sets out the governance arrangements in place across the Department including in its relationship with the Child Support Agency (CSA). The Departmental Framework is underpinned by corporate frameworks, instructions and policies that apply across DWP and its agencies.
	A copy of the Departmental framework can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/departmental_framework.asp
	The Chief Executive of the CSA is a member of the DWP Executive Team. The CSA's main targets are set by the Secretary of State having taken advice from the Director General of Work, Welfare and Equality Group and performance against these and other internal operational targets and objectives takes place within the Department's overall performance management framework. This includes regular Performance Accountability Reviews between the Permanent Secretary and the CSA Chief Executive and Board.
	The Agency has four Secretary of State targets for 2007-08, which can be found in the Agency's business plan for that year a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Child Support Agency: Complaints

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are available for hon. Members to take when dissatisfied with the response by the Child Support Agency to their representations.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 13 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are in place to enable hon. Members to raise their dissatisfaction with the work of the Child Support Agency.
	There is not one specific route for a Member of Parliament (MP) to take should they want to raise their dissatisfaction with the work of the Child Support Agency (CSA). The route taken would depend on the circumstances or reasons for the dissatisfaction, and the avenues that had previously been used.
	MPs can write to the CSA Chief Executive or contact the CSA MP Hotline. If these options have been explored, the following options are available:
	Write to the Minister with responsibility for Child Support. The MP can decide to write to the Minister at any time, by-passing the Agency's complaints process entirely. The Minister will reply for policy issues. Any operational or case specific enquiries are referred to the Chief Executive to reply as he is in the best position to do so.
	The case can be raised with the Independent Case Examiner (ICE). In order to raise a case with the ICE, the Agency has to have had the opportunity to answer the complaint, usually through a response from the Chief Executive.
	Raise the case with the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
	Raise a Parliamentary Question.
	Raise an Adjournment Debate.
	Relevant contact details have been included as Annex A to this letter for your reference.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	 Annex ACSA centre addresses
	Belfast Child Support Agency Centre
	Great Northern Tower
	17-21 Great Victoria Street
	Belfast
	BT2 7AD
	Falkirk Child Support Agency Centre
	Parklands
	Callendar Business Park
	Callendar Road
	Falkirk
	FK1 1XT
	Birkenhead Child Support Agency Centre
	Great Western House
	Woodside Ferry Approach
	Birkenhead
	CH41 6DA
	Hastings Child Support Agency Centre
	Ashdowne House
	Sedlescombe Road North
	Hastings
	East Sussex
	TN37 7NL
	Dudley Child Support Agency Centre
	Pedmore House
	Level Street
	Brierly Hill
	West Midlands
	DY5 1XA
	Plymouth Child Support Agency Centre
	Bickleigh Down Business Park
	Clearbrook House
	Towerfield Drive
	Plymouth
	PL6 7TN
	 Address for a complaint to the CSA Chief Executive
	The Chief Executive of Child Support Agency
	Room M0801
	Durham House
	Washington
	Tyne and Wear
	NE38 7SF
	 Address for a complaint to the Minister
	Lord McKenzie of Luton
	Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords)
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Caxton House
	Tothill Street
	London
	SW1H 9DA
	 Address for the Independent Case Examiner
	Independent Case Examiner
	P.O. Box 155
	Chester
	CH99 9SA
	 Address for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
	Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
	Millbank Tower
	Millbank
	London
	SW1P 4QP
	
		
			  MP hotlines 
			  Location  Availability  Contact details 
			 Dudley 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday; 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Friday Tel: 01384 488515; Fax: 01384 488050 
			
			 Hastings 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 01424 711555; Fax: 01424 711897 
			
			 Falkirk 8.30 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 01324 615092; Fax: 01324 615419 
			
			 Plymouth 8.30 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 08457 137198; Fax: 01752 726379 
			
			 Birkenhead 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 0151 6492323; Fax: 0151 6495649 
			
			 Belfast 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 02890 339343; Fax: 02890 339114 
			
			 MP telephone inquiries to chief executive 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Thursday; 8.30am to 5.00pm Friday Tel: 01384 574917; Fax: 01384 574926

Child Support Agency: Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the net cost of the Child Support Agency in each year since 1993-94, including administrative costs and the effect of reduced benefit payments; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist dated 9 October 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the net cost of the Child Support Agency in each year since 1993-94 including administrative costs and the effect of reduced benefit payments; and if he will make a statement.
	The information available, including the amount of maintenance paid to the Secretary of State in respect of parents with care on Income Support and Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, is presented in the attached table.
	The amounts of benefit saved has declined each year since 2003-04. This is because the proportion of benefit cases within our overall caseload has decreased. The introduction of the Child Maintenance Premium in 2003 has also meant that the amount passed to the Secretary of State on each case has decreased as parents with care on benefit are entitled to keep a proportion of the money paid to them by non-resident parents.
	I hope you find this response helpful.
	
		
			  Net cost of the Child Support Agency in each year since 1993-94 including administrative costs and annual savings in benefits 
			   million 
			   Annual agency net administration costs  Annual savings in benefit 
			 2005-06 465.22 103.71 
			 2004-05 425.59 117.30 
			 2003-04 451.60 141.30 
			 2002-03 428.90 146.50 
			 2001-02 361.90 137.50 
			 2000-01 298.30 143.00 
			 1999-2000 266.70 148.00 
			 1998-99 231.20 (1) 
			 1997-98 225.90 (1) 
			 1996-97 224.50 (1) 
			 1995-96 199.30 (1) 
			 1994-95 192.40 (1) 
			 (1) Not available.   Notes:  1. We are unable to provide figures for 1993-94, as audited accounts were not published for that year; therefore the information is not available.  2. Details of the annual savings in benefits are unavailable before 1999-2000.  3. Annual saving in benefit relates to maintenance collected and passed to the Secretary of State rather than the parent with care.  4. Information from 1994-95 to 2005-06 is sourced from the Child Support Agency's published Annual Report and Accounts, and differs slightly from the published Quarterly Summary Statistics, which uses monthly figures, not subjected to year-end adjustment.  5. In 2005-06, following National Audit Office advice, the Agency's accounting boundaries were changed to include Child Support Reform Programme costs in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts. The 2005-06 accounts and the 2004-05 comparatives were changed. In line with this policy the table above includes Child Support Reform costs from 1999-2000.  6. Figures are rounded.

Child Support Agency: Debt Collection

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Child Support Agency has to recover arrears which are more than six years old; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 13 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers the Child Support Agency has to recover arrears which are more than six years old; and if he will make a statement.
	The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 were recently amended to remove the six-year limitation period for applying to the court for a liability order in England and Wales. The amended legislation came into force on 12 July 2006 and the effect is that debts of child support that have accrued since 12 July 2000 can be pursued through the courts.
	Where arrears are outstanding for periods prior to 12 July 2000 the Child Support Agency may instigate debt recovery by alternative measures, which include imposing a Deduction from Earnings Order or employing external debt collection agencies to recover outstanding debt.
	The position regarding civil recovery of child support debt in Scotland remains unchanged, with a twenty year limitation period on applications for liability orders set by the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Support Agency: Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms of running the Child Support Agency and its successor for each year from 1996-97; what forecast of costs he has made for each year up to 2012-13; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the running costs of the Child Support Agency (CSA) were in each year from 1993-94 to 2006-07; what estimate he has made of the running costs of the CSA and its successor organisation in each year from 2007-08 to 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The estimate of the cash requirements for the agency both historically and in the future is determined as part of the overall cash requirement for the Department. The overall estimate is not broken down on an agency basis, but is instead derived from overall departmental spend against its bank account, on a historic basis. We are therefore unable to provide the separate cash costs of running the agency.
	The following table provides details of Child Support Agency actual and forecast net administration costs from 1996-97 to 2007-08 including, from 1999-2000, the costs of child support reform and the operational improvement plan.
	From 2008-09 the Government intend that the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will undertake the agency's activity. The exact future steady state costs of that organisation will depend on what choices parents make; how the Commission will finally configure its services; and the details of the transitional arrangements to the new scheme. All of these factors are subject to significant uncertainties. Consequently, precise year-by-year estimates are not currently available. It is estimated that, in steady state, the statutory maintenance service is expected to lead to a reduction in administrative costs of around 200 million per annum.
	
		
			  Child Support Agency's actual and forecast net administration costs years 1996-97 to 2007-08 
			  Financial year   million 
			 1996-97 224.50 
			 1997-98 225.90 
			 1998-99 231.20 
			 1999-2000 266.70 
			 2000-01 298.30 
			 2001-02 361.90 
			 2002-03 428.90 
			 2003-04 451.60 
			 2004-05 425.59 
			 2005-06 465.22 
			 2006-07 (1)520.34 
			 2007-08 (1)570.00 
			 (1) Forecast figures, may be subject to change.  Notes: 1. All information from the 2005-06 and earlier years is sourced from the Child Support Agency annual report and accounts. 2. In 2005-06 following National Audit Office advice the agency's accounting boundaries were changed resulting in the inclusion of Child Support Reform Programme costs in the agency's annual accounts. The 2005-06 accounts and the 2004-05 comparatives were changed accordingly. In line with this policy the table includes Child Support Reform costs from 1999-2000. 3. The 2006-07 net administration costs and maintenance collections may be subject to change and will be confirmed when the Child Support Agency annual report and accounts are published following the summer recess 2007.

Child Support Agency: Lone Parents

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Child Support Agency applications are for cases where only one parent is named on the birth certificate; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Child Support Agency: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were allocated a Child Support Agency enforcement worker in each quarter from 1997 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 17 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff were allocated a Child Support Agency enforcement worker in each quarter from 1997 to June 2007; and if he will make a statement.
	We contacted your office to clarify your question and were advised that you wanted to know the numbers of people working in enforcement activities in each quarter from 1997 to June 2007.
	The information available is set out in the attached table.
	Prior to the Operational Improvement Plan (OIP), the Agency had a small centrally managed team engaged in legal enforcement work which involved the Civil Enforcement of debt following the failure of Bailiff action, 3(rd) Party Debt Orders, Charging Orders and Orders for Sale and their Scottish equivalents. This also involved committal to prison or driving license removal.
	Debt Enforcement is responsible for the initial handling of cases when payment breaks down or is not achieved. This involves Deduction from Earnings Orders when appropriate and secures legal recognition of debt through obtaining Liability Orders as well as initiating bailiff action in respect of those debts. Historically, this was carried out by a variety of different teams throughout the Agency.
	The first year of the OIP focused on organisational and operational restructuring, and the training of our people to increase capacity and capability.
	In the OIP we committed to increasing the resource on both types of enforcement work by 600 people. This was achieved by July 2006.
	This is the first step to meet the OIP commitment to quadruple the number of people deployed on enforcement work by March 2009. The Agency has contracted out the recovery of debt on 50,000 cases, effectively increasing the total resource devoted to enforcing Child Support maintenance and getting more money to more children. The largest proportionate increase has been in the Agency Legal Enforcement Teams, which have also taken on a greater workload; there has been a substantial increase in the amount of court based enforcement activity in the first year of the OIP. The Agency now has 2861 people (Full Time Equivalent) working in our new Enforcement lines of business; Debt and Legal.
	More investment in enforcement activity will continue as we make progress in clearing uncleared applications and are able to re-deploy more people on to this work.
	I hope you find this response helpful.
	
		
			  Number of people working in enforcement activities in each quarter from 1997 to June 2007 
			  Quarter ending  Number of people working in enforcement associated roles  Number of people working in central enforcement activities 
			  2001   
			 September 1,265 97 
			 December 1,315 111 
			
			  2002   
			 March 1,339 124 
			 June 1,365 133 
			 September 1,396 161 
			 December 1,385 170 
			
			  2003   
			 March 1,305 173 
			 June 1,192 166 
			 September 1,173 194 
			 December 1,152 212 
			
			  2004   
			 March 1,073 221 
			 June 1,504 222 
			 September 1,588 227 
			 December 1,599 238 
			  2005   
			 March 1,551 188 
			 June 1,615 264 
			 September 1,699 277 
			 December 1,917 294 
			
			  2006   
			 March 2,082 280 
			 June 2,168 281 
			 September  2,494 
			 December  2,966 
			
			  2007   
			 March  2,861 
			 June  n/a 
			 n/a = Not available.  Notes: 1. Information prior to September 2001 is not available. 2. The numbers given are the numbers employed by the Agency on full-time equivalent basis (FTE). 3. Enforcement includes, debt enforcement which is responsible for the initial handling of cases when payment breaks down or is not achieved, including deduction from earning orders and liability orders and legal enforcement work involves the civil enforcement of debt following the failure of bailiff action, through 3(rd) party debt orders, charging orders and orders for sale and their Scottish equivalents. 4. For the period prior to June 2006, details include people in each area and the CSA Central Enforcement teams engaged in a variety of activities including, but not exclusively enforcement work. 5. From September 2006, figures relate to two new lines of business, debt enforcement and legal enforcement.

Child Support Agency: Payments

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases resulted in the Child Support Agency (CSA) in each of the last three years; how many such payments the CSA made in each year; and what the total amount of such payments was in each year.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 13 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases resulted in the Child Support Agency making a conciliatory payment in each of the last three years; how many such payments the CSA made in each year; and what the total amount of such payments was in each year.
	The information provided in the table below reflects the total number of consolatory awards, not the number of cases where a payment has been made. A client may have been awarded separate payments in respect of, for example, embarrassment and severe distress. Figures quoted in the table will therefore count two awards against the one case. It is unfortunately not possible to provide the number of cases where a consolatory payment has been made, as we do not routinely collect this information.
	
		
			  Total amount of consolatory awards to clients 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Consolatory payments (m) 0.582 0.608 0.666 
			 Total number of consolatory awards made 9,001 9,208 9,194

Child Support Agency: Standards

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unprocessed Child Support Agency cases there were in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in each of the last 12 months.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 17 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unprocessed Child Support Agency cases there were in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex in each of the last 12 months.
	The information requested is provided in the attached table.
	The Agency begins to process new applications as soon as they are received and continues until they have been cleared. Uncleared applications will be at varying stages in the application processes, with very few being completely unprocessed.
	This table does not include those cases where the parent/person with care's residential postcode is not recorded. In some of these cases, the Agency holds a residential address without a postcode; a contact address; or a business address. We have excluded cases that have not yet reached the stage in the process where the postcode information has been confirmed, as it is not possible to associate them to a local authority. At June 2007 there were 22,600 uncleared applications with an 'unknown' Local Authority. This equates to 13% of all uncleared cases in June 2007.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. As the quality of the management information within the Agency improves, the figures are subject to revision and information in the table, therefore, may differ slightly from previously released figures.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Volume of uncleared applications in East Sussex local authority: new and old scheme from July 2006 to June 2007 
			   Number 
			  2006  
			 July 1,280 
			 August 1,290 
			 September 1,290 
			 October 1,330 
			 November 1,330 
			 December 1,320 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 1,300 
			 February 1,280 
			 March 1,250 
			 April 1,230 
			 May 1,220 
			 June 1,240 
		
	
	
		
			  Volume of uncleared applications i n Eastbourne parliamentary constituency : new and old scheme from July 2006 to June 2007 
			   Number 
			  2006  
			 July 310 
			 August 320 
			 September 320 
			 October 320 
			 November 330 
			 December 330 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 330 
			 February 330 
			 March 320 
			 April 310 
			 May 310 
			 June 320 
			  Notes: 1. These tables counts applications for child support. Not all applications become live cases. 2. A potential new application is defined as cleared when it: has had a calculation and a payment arrangement set up (new scheme only) or has had an assessment (old scheme only); has been closed; has been identified as having had a good cause decision accepted; has been identified as being subject to a reduced benefit decision; has been identified as a change of circumstances to an existing case, as opposed to a new application (new scheme only). 3. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. The figures are subject to revision and therefore may differ slightly from previously released figures.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what restrictions there are on the Child Support Agency accessing HM Revenue and Customs information about non-resident parents'  (a) income,  (b) employment status and  (c) home address; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency can only access HM Revenue and Customs information about non-resident parents'  (a) income  (b) employment status and  (c) home address subject to meeting the requirements of the legal information gateways set out in the Child Support Act 1991, the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Act 1998, the Tax Credits Act 2002, and the Data Protection Act 1998.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-resident parents being pursued by the Child Support Agency  (a) have moved abroad and  (b) are untraceable; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 17 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-resident parents being pursued by the Child Support Agency (a) have moved abroad and (b) are untraceable; and if he will make a statement.
	Information on the number of non-resident parents who are untraceable is not available. The number of non-resident parents currently residing abroad but within our jurisdiction is reported in the Agency Quarterly Summary Statistics and, as of March 2007, currently stands at 6,600. We do not have any information on any non-resident parents living abroad outside our jurisdiction.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Child Support Agency compliance rates are in cases where the parent with care is on benefits with  (a) a complete clawback of maintenance and  (b) a 10 per week disregard of maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 13 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Child Support Agency compliance rates are in cases where the parent with care is on benefits with  (a) a complete clawback of maintenance and  (b) a 10 per week disregard of maintenance; and if he will make a statement.
	Information on the numbers of parents with care on income based benefits is only available to August 2006. The compliance rate for new scheme cases where the parent with care was in receipt of income based benefits and therefore eligible to receive the 10 child maintenance premium was 65 per cent. in the quarter ending August 2006. The compliance rate for old scheme cases where the parent with care was on income based benefits and therefore not eligible to receive the child maintenance premium was 64 per cent. in the quarter ending August 2006.
	I hope you find this helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much income support was recovered by the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993-94 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available in the format that you have requested. Although the agency publish total payments made to the Secretary of state in the annual report and accounts, the amount of child maintenance recovered to the Secretary of state cannot be fully broken down by each benefit.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of parents with care who received any form of regular child maintenance from the non-resident parent in each year from 1990-91 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 13 September 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of parents with care who received any form of regular child maintenance from the non-resident parent in each year from 1990-91 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.
	The information requested can be obtain from Table 7.2 of the March 2007 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics. A copy of this is available in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet via the following link:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa_quarterly _jun07.asp.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many and what percentage of cases that were dealt with by the Child Support Agency in the last 12 months it was impossible to establish the identity of the non-resident parent due to failure to register parenthood jointly on the birth certificate; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of non-resident parents whose child maintenance payments will rise by more than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent.,  (c) 30 per cent. and  (d) 50 per cent. under the new arrangements for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: With the increased focus on voluntary arrangements and the ending of the requirement that parents with care on benefit be treated as applying for child maintenance, not all of the current Child Support Agency caseload will choose to use the statutory maintenance service. In many cases parents will choose to make voluntary arrangements supported by an information and support service. Since these arrangements are a matter for parents to agree upon it is not possible to estimate the proportion of non-resident parents whose child maintenance payments will rise by more than certain percentages.
	Where parents do choose to use the statutory maintenance arrangements the proposed statutory maintenance formula has been chosen to broadly replicate the current system. Figures on the amount paid under the second child support scheme and statutory maintenance arrangements under different income levels and for different family sizes can be found in table 2, page 19 of the regulatory impact assessment which accompanied the Child Maintenance and Other Payment Bill.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current rate of deduction for child maintenance is for non-resident parents on benefits by the Child Support Agency; when the rate was fixed; what the rate would be worth if uprated by the retail price index; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The current flat rate of deduction in respect of child maintenance from non-resident parents who are in receipt of benefit is 5 per week. The current flat rate was fixed when the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 was granted Royal Assent in July 2000.
	We estimate that if the 5 flat rate had been uprated each March, in line with the retail price index, it would currently be 5.99 per week.

Children: Poverty

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's targets were for lifting children out of poverty in each year since 1997; and whether each target was met.

Caroline Flint: We do not have annual child poverty targets; however we have set challenging goals to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.

Council Tax Benefits

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) people,  (b) senior citizens and  (c) families (i) were entitled to and (ii) received council tax benefit in each borough in the last period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The latest estimates of the take-up of the main income-related benefits: income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) in Great Britain can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2004/2005.Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	The available information about the number of families receiving council tax benefit in each local authority has been placed in the Library.

Council Tax Benefits

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of council tax benefit, broken down by region; and what estimate he has made of the number of households eligible to receive council tax benefit.

James Plaskitt: The latest estimates of the take-up of the main income-related benefitsincome support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based)in Great Britain can be found in the DWP report entitled 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2004-05'.Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Council tax benefit caseloads by Government office region, February 2007 
			   Total CTB claimants 
			 All GB 5,096,570 
			   
			 North East 295,620 
			 North West 686,640 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 461,040 
			 East Midlands 338,270 
			 West Midlands 506,650 
			 East 390,900 
			 London 728,470 
			 South East 504,020 
			 South West 368,810 
			 Wales 282,240 
			 Scotland 533,920 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Caseload has been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. CTB figures exclude any second adult rebate cases. 5. The totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source: Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in February 2007.

Council Tax Benefits: Ethnic Groups

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of black and minority ethnic households that are  (a) eligible for and  (b) in receipt of council tax benefit.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Council Tax Benefits: Forms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum number is of pages of the council tax benefit form a person is required to complete to claim the benefit.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 September 2007
	DWP issues model claim forms for council tax benefit (CTB). The minimum number of pages a claimant has to complete on a DWP CTB form is two, where they are reclaiming CTB after a break of less than 12 weeks.
	The minimum number of pages a claimant who is making a brand new claim for CTB has to complete is three. This applies to customers who are also getting or have applied for pension credit.
	The maximum number of pages a claimant has to complete to claim CTB is 27. This is where the customer is making a brand new claim for CTB, and is not claiming alongside another means-tested benefit. If housing benefit is also claimed at the same time as CTB, the total number of pages to claim both benefits could be a maximum of 33.

Council Tax Benefits: Low Incomes

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to change the council tax benefit system to redistribute unclaimed benefit to the poorest households.

James Plaskitt: We have no plans to change the council tax benefit system to redistribute unclaimed benefit to the poorest households.

Council Tax Benefits: Scotland

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was provided to the Scottish Executive for the payment of council tax benefit in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 23 July 2007
	The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Paid to Scottish Local Authorities 
			million 
			 2001-02 288 
			 2002-03 294 
			 2003-04 307 
			 2004-05 345 
			 2005-06 354 
			  Notes:  1. Local authorities pay council tax benefit (CTB) to eligible claimants and central Government fund the payments by way of CTB subsidy paid to the authorities.  2. Payment of CTB subsidy is made to individual local authorities, not the Scottish Executive, based on audited claims made by the authorities.  3. Benefit which is paid in accordance with CTB rules is subsidised at 100 per cent., but lower rates of subsidy are paid where there has been an overpayment of benefit, caused by, for example, claimant error or fraud.   Source: Audited subsidy claims submitted to DWP by local authorities.

Departments: Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions the Department had its accounts qualified by auditors in the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 September 2007
	In his report on the 2006-07 accounts, published on 25 July, the Comptroller and Auditor General said:
	This is the 18 successive year in which I have qualified the Department's accounts. I am please to report, however, that this year has seen further real progress towards removing or tackling these long-standing qualifications, building on initiatives put in train last year.
	The Department's staff have continued to demonstrate real determination to resolve the underlying causes of these qualifications. Indeed I have been able to remove two aspects of the long-standing limitation of scope qualification on customer overpayment debt balances, which is a tribute to the clear leadership evident within the Department in tackling these issues.

Departments: Air Conditioning

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on the hire of mobile air conditioning units in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Works and Pensions spent the following amount on hire charges relating to the provision of mobile air conditioning units:
	
		
			
			 2002-03 0 
			 2003-04 7,641.00 
			 2004-05 10,824.00 
			 2005-06 705.00 
			 2006-07 278.00 
		
	
	The Department entered into a 20 year PFI Contract with Land Securities Trillium (LST) in 1998 known as the PRIME Contract, which was expanded in 2003 following the merger of Department of Social Security and the Employment Service. The contract is for the provision of fully serviced accommodation and the Department pays an all-inclusive unitary charge to LST for this provision.
	This unitary charge includes the provision, if required, for mobile air conditioning units. Therefore, the costs identified are for the provision of a unit that falls outside of the scope of the PRIME Contract, and is therefore relatively small. An example of a requirement outside the scope would be a site not included within the PRIME portfolio, where facility management responsibility is retained by the Department.

Departments: Aviation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on  (a) first class and  (b) business class flights in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The Department has spent in the last 12 months:
	 (a) 6,374 on first class flights
	 (b) 1,415,556 on business class flights

Departments: Crime

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which criminal offences have been introduced by his Department in primary legislation since October 2006.

Anne McGuire: The only criminal offence created by Department for Work and Pensions primary legislation made since October 2006 is contained in section 43 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007.
	This provision, when in force, will make it a criminal offence for a local authority employee to make an unauthorised disclosure of benefit information obtained under section 42 of the 2007 Act. A person guilty of an offence under section 43 is liable to a maximum of two years imprisonment in the Crown court or (subject to section 43(8)) 12 months imprisonment before the magistrates court or a fine or both.
	Section 43 replaces a very similar provision in the Local Government Act 2000.

Departments: Delivery Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what volume of correspondence his Department sent  (a) by Royal Mail and  (b) by other commercial delivery services in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for the use of other commercial delivery services.

Anne McGuire: The information for  (a) is listed in the following table. It does not include output of mail items sent from the Department's local offices as this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only by incurring disproportionate costs. Royal Mail collect, sort and deliver mail from majority of DWP sites including the collection of first class mail from a DWP supplier who produces mail on behalf of the Department.
	
		
			   Volume 
			 2002 121,754,264 
			 2003 116,806,028 
			 2004 105,367,565 
			 2005 84,532,423 
			 2006 89,694,433 
		
	
	 (b) DWP uses other commercial delivery services secured through competitive tender awarded on the basis of value for money and increased efficiency.
	UK Mail were recently awarded a contract following a competition to handle items of DWP second class mail collected from two regional distribution centres which is passed to Royal Mail for final mile delivery under downstream access. DWP will achieve significant savings over the duration of this contract.
	The Department sends approximately 18 million items per year between DWP offices through a courier service. This includes the distribution of internal mail and stationery from our print suppliers. We are unable to provide more accurate information as these data are not held centrally and to obtain them would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Department has an annual average volume of 1.5 million items of international mail dealt with from various sites by a company called Spring. Again, we are unable to provide more accurate data as the information is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Departments: Departmental Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 84W, on Departments: Departmental Records, what estimate he has made of the annual increase of files in storage since 2004; what the basis is on which files are kept and accessed; for how long they are kept; and what the criteria for disposal are.

Anne McGuire: The original file holding in central sites in July 2004 was 16,700,00.
	
		
			   File holding Heywood site 
			 July 2007 44,425,291 
			 July 2006 35,055,824 
			 July 2005 25,003,306 
			 July 2004 16,714,353 
		
	
	The number of files held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its agencies at July 2007 is approximately 52.7 million (this includes 7.3 million DCS files are held at Nelson store).
	DWP employs a policy to actively maintain and retain customer information and documentation for as long as they are required for departmental business purposes.
	Documentation relating to customer claims for benefit are retained for as long as the decision to pay or not pay on the claim remains current and 14 months after it is superseded, withdrawn or refused.
	The retention of corporate documentation is determined by business need, taking into account any statutory, legal considerations. Corporate information, such as Registered Files are retained, reviewed and disposed of in accordance with the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967 and in consultation with the National Archives.
	This takes regard to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Freedom of Information Act 2000, however, retention periods are determined to meet DWP business purposes.
	Access to all records is strictly determined by departmental business reasons. Operational procedures are in place to control this.

Departments: Departmental Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 84W, on Departments: Departmental Records, what mechanisms are in place to prevent the duplication of files for the same claimants.

Anne McGuire: Customer details are entered onto DWP's electronic file system using the national insurance number as the key unique identifier and this will prevent the duplication of customer files.
	Each business unit and benefit type within that unit will retain its own record/file for each individual. Within DWP guidance there is a requirement to consider previous records and either maintain all documents within one file or ensure that the earlier files are marked for destruction depending on how long ago the previous claim went dormant.
	In addition there may be occasions for urgent cases when a duplicate file may be raised with the intention that is linked with the original at the first opportunity. Depending on linking rules some benefits will legitimately have more than one record.

Departments: Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees of his Department in receipt of statutory sick pay moved on to incapacity benefit in each year since 1997, broken down by disease group.

Caroline Flint: Unfortunately this information cannot be calculated in the timescale and would be at disproportionate cost. The Payroll system does not hold data on staff who move from SSP to incapacity benefit. The Data Matching Service have advised that it would be a disproportionate cost to get this information from the PSCS system.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by his Department.

Anne McGuire: As at 30 July 2007, 16 national press officers and 26 regional press officers were employed by the Department.

Departments: New Deal Schemes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals recruited by his Department from new deal programmes since the inception of the scheme left within  (a) six and  (b) 12 months;
	(2)  how many individuals his Department has recruited from new deal schemes since the inception of the new deal, broken down by scheme.

Anne McGuire: We are unable to provide the number of individuals the Department has recruited from new deal schemes, by specific scheme, as this information is not collected.

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last year to encourage more people to make such contributions.

James Plaskitt: 2,189 members of staff in the Department for Work and Pensions (1.74 per cent. of the total number of staff employed by the department) currently make additional voluntary contributions through deductions from their pay.

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on newspapers and magazines in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The DWP spent a total of 126,393.63 on periodicals and newspapers in the last 12 months.

Departments: Railways

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on first class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The Department spent 9.48 million on first class rail tickets in the last 12 months.

Departments: Sick Leave

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average duration was of an absence from work through sickness in his Department in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Official figures on the level of sickness absence in the civil service are reported by the Cabinet Office annually in a report titled 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service'. However, the Cabinet Office does not report 'average duration' at summary level in this report, therefore the figures quoted in the table are taken from data held internally. Data on 'average durations' have been recorded internally since 2002-03.
	
		
			  Financial year  Average duration working days 
			 2006-07 6.3 
			 2005-06 6.5 
			 2004-05 7.1 
			 2003-04 6.7 
			 2002-03 6.2 
		
	
	The figures for 'average duration' are based on April to March working days.

Departments: Sick Pay

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what total amount of statutory sick pay was received by employees of his Department in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of employees in his Department were in receipt of statutory sick pay in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how much occupational sick pay has been paid to employees of his Department in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: A new system has been rolling out since November 2006 and the information cannot be provided from legacy systems without disproportionate cost. On the new system the information will not be available until the end of the financial year.

Departments: Tribunals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The total amount spent by the Department for Work and Pensions in legal costs (representing the amount spent on case workers, lawyers and barristers) in defending Employment Tribunal claims between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007 is 2,907,334.90.

Departments: Westmorland

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider locating or relocating additional departmental jobs to Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Anne McGuire: The Department currently employs 26.91 (full-time equivalent) staff within the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency at the Jobcentre Plus office in Kendal. The Department has no plans at this time to either expand on or reduce the service delivered from this Jobcentre Plus office.

Disability Aids: Departmental Cooperation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve the delineation of responsibility between the Social Fund and other public agencies in connection with the provision of disability aids and adaptations.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The Social Fund is flexible and capable of covering a wide range of individual circumstances. In particular, the Social Fund Community Care Grant complements the help of other supporting agencies such as the national health service and local authorities in fulfilling general aims for community care.
	It is the responsibility of local Social Services Departments to carry out assessments and provide assistance with necessary aids and adaptations for disabled people. Guidance to Social Fund decision makers makes it clear that a Community Care Grant should be considered in the normal way where expenses do not fall within the statutory responsibility of a local authority.

Disability Living Allowance

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for disability living allowance there were between April 2006 and January 2007.

Anne McGuire: Between April 2006 and January 2007 there were 355,090 claims received for disability living allowance.

Disability Living Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for disability living allowance were made in each year since 1997; what proportion were approved; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance (DLA) new claims 
			  Year ended  November  Total DLA claims received  Percentage of claims approved 
			 1997 490,620 45.1 
			 1998 396,830 45.5 
			 1999 393,090 45.4 
			 2000 405,530 50.7 
			 2001 413,070 51.1 
			 2002 422,830 52.8 
			 2003 436,720 50.7 
			 2004 439,750 48.2 
			 2005 428,960 46.2 
			 2006 427,080 45.5 
			  Notes : 1. These data are drawn from management information and should not be used in conjunction with sample statistics drawn from the benefit administration systems. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10;  Source: DCS Computer System

Disability Living Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances an individual's eligibility for disability living allowance is reassessed; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Eligibility to disability living allowance is reassessed when an award is due to end and a further claim is submitted, or when the customer asks for the decision to be looked at again or when information is received suggesting that there has been a change of circumstances since the original award of benefit was made.

Disability Living Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the earnings disregard for disability living allowance was in April of each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Disability living allowance is not an income-related benefit. Earnings are not taken into account when entitlement is assessed and there is therefore no earnings disregard.

Disability Living Allowance: Appeals

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance claimants appealed against decisions made on their claims between April 2006 and January 2007.

Anne McGuire: From 1 April 2006 to 31 January 2007, 79,237 appeals were registered on the disability living allowance computer system.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to list the groups in the working age population which he thinks should not be expected to work.

James Plaskitt: A key element of the Government's strategy to increase the overall employment rate is to extend employment and skills support to those who are economically inactive.
	Establishing a list of groups that are not expected to work might limit the aspirations of those who, where appropriate and with the right support, could re-enter the labour market and then move back into work. In our Welfare Reform Green Paper In work, better off Cm 7130, published on 18 July 2007, we have reiterated our aim of extending the opportunity to work to all.

Employment Schemes

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he plans to make of the analysis of the barriers to work set out in the National Audit Office report Helping People from Workless Households into Work, HC 609.

Caroline Flint: We welcome the National Audit Office report Helping People from Workless Households into Work. As the report describes, there are now more people in work than ever before and the existing range of employment programmes have been a success. They are also right that there remain three million workless households with too many children living in poverty. This is why we have put forward new proposals in the Green Paper, In work, better off: next steps to full employment, to deliver a step change in the employment and skills support we offer to the most disadvantaged in the labour market.
	We will consider their analysis of the barriers to work and the recommendations they have made.

Employment Services

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for pilot studies of private and voluntary sector involvement in the provision of employment support; what the timetable is for such pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Private and third sector organisations already play an important role in delivering employment support to people who are out of work. Examples of this include the new deal for disabled people, employment zones, and pathways to work, for which we are currently letting contracts. We will continue to learn from all of these different types of involvement and consider how we can provide better incentives and rewards for providers.
	As our Green Paper In work, better off Cm7130, published on 18 July 2007, sets out, we are currently developing a more strategic approach to the commissioning of employment programmes. Over the coming months we will be talking to a wide variety of providers and others and drawing on evidence from the UK and elsewhere to inform this approach. We also propose to test certain approaches, such as rewarding providers who are successful in moving people into sustained employment with increased funds to invest in further activity.

Employment: Disabled

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in piloting the redesigned personal capability assessment; and what evaluations he has made of the results of the pilots.

Caroline Flint: Following the early testing of the revised personal capability assessment that was carried out last year and reported in February 2007, we have completed a more extensive, Phase 2 test on a larger and more representative sample of cases. The outcome of this is currently being evaluated, and we expect to publish a report of Phase 2 evaluation in the late summer or early autumn.

Employment: Pensioners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of individuals in employment over state pension age who want to work; and what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on employment of people over the state pension age.

Mike O'Brien: The number of people working past state pension age has been increasing, and currently stands at just under 1.2 million. Research has shown that there are a number of reasons why people want to continue working. Around one third of those people aged under 70 who retired after state pension age gave enjoying their job/working as one reason for retiring after SPA in 2002 research (DWP RR200). Financial reasons play an important part but also orientation towards work, job satisfaction and valued social networks formed through work are influential. Health status has an important influence over whether people are able to work after SPA.
	DWP commissioned and published research reports on this area are listed as follows:
	Factors affecting labour market participation of older workers (DWP RR 200): a quantitative survey of 2,800 people aged 50 to 69;
	Factors affecting labour market participation of older workers: qualitative research (DWP RR 281): a qualitative study with in-depth interviews and focus groups with individuals aged 50 to 69;
	Working after state pension age: quantitative analysis (DWP RR 182): analysis of quantitative surveys such as the Labour Force Survey, Family Resources Survey, British Household Panel Survey looking as the circumstances under which people work after SPA;
	Working after state pension age: qualitative research (DWP RR 208): in-depth interviews and focus groups with people approaching and over SPA including those in work and those not working.
	Our evaluation of this research has informed policy developments in this area.
	We have commissioned, but not yet published, research to examine how we can best enable the 60 to 64 age group to take up or remain in work. The research is due to be published late in 2007.

Employment: Retail Trade

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which retailers have been chosen  (a) in Scotland and  (b) throughout the UK to supply the incentive vouchers used by engagement consultants employed by Working Links to attract potential recruits under the scheme since its commencement.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available.

Government Departments: New Deal Schemes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department keeps a record of the recruitment of individuals from New Deal programmes by other Government departments.

James Plaskitt: The Department does not keep a record of how many individuals, from new deal programmes, have been recruited by other Government Departments.

Housing Benefit

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what year rental valuations are based for the purpose of calculating housing benefits.

James Plaskitt: Rental valuations for the purpose of calculating housing benefits are not based on a specific year.

Housing Benefit: Islington

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average level of housing benefit paid to  (a) local authority tenants,  (b) housing association tenants and  (c) private sector tenants in the borough of Islington was in (i) the last 12 months and (ii) each of the last three years.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 18 July 2007
	The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Average weekly amount of housing benefit by tenure in the London borough of Islington in the last available 12 months 
			   per week 
			   Local authority tenants  Registered social landlord tenants  Private tenants 
			 February 2006 77.51 89.85 127.00 
			 May 2006 82.77 91.75 129.51 
			 August 2006 82.95 94.18 131.64 
			 November 2006 82.79 95.17 133.87 
		
	
	
		
			  Average weekly amount of housing benefit by tenure in the London borough of  Islington in the last available three  years 
			   per week 
			   Local authority tenants  Registered social landlord tenants  Private tenants 
			 November 2004 75.14 83.13 118.71 
			 November 2005 77.55 89.17 126.52 
			 November 2006 82.79 95.17 133.87 
			  Notes:  1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  2. Average amounts have been rounded to the nearest penny.  3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.  4. Housing benefit excludes any extended payment cases.   Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in the quarters shown.

Incapacity Benefit

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials an incapacity benefit claimant has to deal with on average before he or she can claim the benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 Customers who wish to claim incapacity benefit can do so in several ways. They can telephone a Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre and speak to an official or arrange to see an official in a Jobcentre or obtain a claim form from Jobcentre Plus and return it by post or complete a claim form online via the Jobcentre Plus website.
	Generally therefore, a customer would only contact a single Jobcentre Plus official in order to make a claim to incapacity benefit.

Incapacity Benefits: Mortgages

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is available to assist  (a) able-bodied and  (b) disabled people who stop work at short notice due to incapacity in paying the interest on their mortgages; and what limits are placed on this support relating to (i) weekly payments, (ii) the size of mortgage covered and (iii) timespan for which support is available.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 July 2007
	There is no difference between income support and jobseeker's allowance regarding the level of assistance with housing costs for disabled and non-disabled claimants who leave work. Claimants who took out a mortgage after 2 October 1995 must wait 39 weeks before assistance with their housing costs is paid.
	People who have caring responsibilities, or who have been refused payments under an insurance policy due to either a pre-existing medical condition or because they were infected with HIV may receive such assistance earlier.
	Generally no assistance is available where a person takes a loan out while in receipt of benefit and no assistance is provided towards arrears, capital repayments or insurance premiums. Help can be given towards the interest on the first 100,000 of the outstanding loan. Such assistance with housing costs is available until entitlement to income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance ceases.
	Similar rules apply to people on pension credit. However, they do not have to serve a waiting period before assistance with housing costs can be paid.
	The capital limit of 100,000 does not apply to loans taken out to adapt the existing dwelling for the needs of a disabled person.
	A claimant may take out a loan during their benefit claim in order to move to a new property that is more suitable for the needs of a disabled person. However, in these cases the capital limit of 100,000 would still apply.

Jobcentre Plus: Closures

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus offices closed in each year since 2001, broken down by Parliamentary constituency.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 July 2007
	The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus: Closures

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there are plans to close Jobcentre Plus offices in Scotland.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 17 September 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether there are plans to close Jobcentre Plus offices in Scotland. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Over the last five years Jobcentre Plus has undertaken a programme of major refurbishment to modernise its office network and introduce improved business processes to support customers. This programme commenced in 2002 when Jobcentre Plus integrated the services formerly provided by the Employment Service and parts of the Benefit Agency. We inherited around 1,500 offices from these two organisations, many of which were unsuitable for Jobcentre Plus either in terms of their location or their physical structure.
	I can confirm there are definite plans to close three Jobcentre Plus offices in Scotland; Portobello; Dundee (Seagate); and Perth. These offices currently deal with benefit processing only and therefore are not open to the public. The work is being migrated to our Benefit Delivery Centre network.
	Since its inception Jobcentre Plus has continuously improved its services to customers through modern telephony and e-services. This allows us to review our network of offices to focus our resources where they are most needed.
	I hope this is helpful

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed by  (a) the Employment Service and  (b) Jobcentre Plus in each year since 2002, broken down by region.

Mike O'Brien: Regional breakdown is not available for 2002 and 2003. The number of full-time equivalents (FTE) employed by Jobcentre Plus (formed in 2002) in each of these years is 86,910 and 82,904 respectively.
	The available information for 2004 to 2007 is in the following table.
	
		
			   FTE as at March: 
			  Region  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 East Midlands 4,647.87 4,379.46 4,328.26 4,315.52 
			 East of England 5,105.77 4,833.82 4,566.04 4,226.43 
			 London 11,400.74 10,401.92 9,367.19 8,788.02 
			 North East 4,949.76 4,650.66 4,475.21 4,258.80 
			 North West 10,810.76 10,011.12 9,544.17 9,254.00 
			 Scotland 8,508.70 7,817.84 7,123.28 6,738.43 
			 South East 6,666.49 6,111.41 5,432.48 5,279.61 
			 South West 5,012.37 4,694.79 4,448.53 4,254.78 
			 Wales 4,878.71 4,675.03 4,520.56 4,414.25 
			 West Midlands 6,851.50 6,318.87 5,946.79 5,869.54 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 7,327.12 6,911.23 6,117.87 6,104.38 
			 Other(1) 3,936.98 3,668.32 5,351.04 4,441.81 
			 Grand total 80,096.77 74,474.47 71,221.42 67,945.57 
			 (1) Figure includes staff in central support teams and the national directorates where a regional breakdown is not available.  Source:  Jobcentre Plus Management Information Portal

Jobcentre Plus: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the  (a) accessibility and  (b) efficiency of Jobcentre Plus services since the move to centralised contact and processing centres; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Ministers and officials meet regularly with stakeholders regarding the services we provide. Specifically we have received representations from the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee Report in March 2006, and the Citizen's Advice Bureau report on 19 July 2007.
	In light of the Select Committee report and feedback, Jobcentre Plus commissioned independent research around the accessibility of Jobcentre Plus services with key stakeholder groups. These groups included benefit claimants with hearing impairments, speech impediments, learning difficulties, mental health issues and non-English speakers and Jobcentre Plus staff.
	The findings from this research were published on 19 July 2007. The full report The Use of Jobcentre Plus Telephony and Face-to-face First Contact Services by Customers with Specific Communication Barriers (Research Report No. 446) is now available on the DWP website and copies have been placed in the Library.

Jobcentre Plus: Unemployment Benefits

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice on benefit entitlement is available at Jobcentre Plus offices; and how that advice may be accessed.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 13 September 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what advice on benefit entitlement is available at Jobcentre Plus offices and how that advice may be accessed. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus offices provide comprehensive advice on all benefits. General advice can be obtained through a range of leaflets available online, in our offices and by post. Benefit information is also available face to face and by telephone. For customers who are hard of hearing or have speech difficulties, a textphone is available. Interpreting services are also available when required.
	When a customer telephones Jobcentre Plus to make a claim to benefit, or has a meeting with a Personal Adviser, we are able to provide more personalised advice on jobs and benefits. Of course, a customer's entitlement can only be determined when a claim to a benefit has been properly made.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentres: Scotland

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Scottish Jobcentre Plus offices with  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time opening hours were closed in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 13 September 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking which Scottish Jobcentre Plus offices were closed in each of the last five years, with full-time and part-time opening hours. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Over the last five years Jobcentre Plus has undertaken a programme of major refurbishment to modernise its office and introduce improved business processes to support customers. This programme commenced in 2002 when Jobcentre Plus integrated the services formerly provided by the Employment Service and parts of the Benefit Agency. We inherited around 1,500 offices from these two organisations, many of which were unsuitable for Jobcentre Plus either in terms of their location or their physical structure. In drawing up local Service Delivery Plans for our modernisation programme the offices considered unsuitable were earmarked for closure. I attach a list of offices closed in Scotland in the last five years, stating whether they were full or part time.
	Since its inception Jobcentre Plus has continuously improved its services to customers through modern telephony and e-services. This allows us to review our network of offices to focus our resources where they are most needed. I am committed to consulting local people and other stakeholders if this means we have to revise our original Service Delivery Plans.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claims were repeat claims  (a) in the last year for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the preceding five years; and how many claimants claimed jobseeker's allowance more than twice in each year.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of repeat jobseeker's allowance claims where an award has been made 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 1,596,500 
			 2002-03 1,687,400 
			 2003-04 1,643,300 
			 2004-05 1,563,100 
			 2005-06 1,576,700 
			 2006-07 1,596,000 
			  Notes: 1. 100 per cent. administrative data are only available since June 1999. 2. A claim has been defined as a repeat claim if the jobseeker has previously (since June 1999) made a claim for JSA. 3. Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 4. Figures include credits-only awards of jobseeker's allowance.  Source: National Benefits Database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of people making a claim for jobseeker's allowance more than twice in the year where an award has been made 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 114,200 
			 2002-03 119,500 
			 2003-04 107,200 
			 2004-05 96,100 
			 2005-06 88,500 
			 2006-07 93,300 
			  Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The figures give the number of people who have made more than two claims for JSA within a single year. 3. Figures include credits-only awards of jobseeker's allowance.  Source: National Benefits Database.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Basic Skills

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what percentage of jobseeker's allowance claimants identified with basic skills needs by JobCentre Plus screening acquired a basic skills qualification in (a) the latest year for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the preceding five years;
	(2)  how many jobseeker's allowance claimants were identified as having basic skills needs as a result of screening at six months from the start of their claim  (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the preceding five years.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The information is not available in the format requested, other than at disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance: West Midlands

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed jobseeker's allowance in  (a) the Black Country district and  (b) the Marches district in each month between June 2006 and June 2007.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Jobseeker's allowance claimants June 2006 to June 2007 
			   Black Country Jobcentre Plus district  Marches Jobcentre Plus district 
			 June 2006 31,336 12,809 
			 July 2006 32,169 12,840 
			 August 2006 32,399 12,845 
			 September 2006 32,554 12,674 
			 October 2006 31,211 12,159 
			 November 2006 30,652 12,288 
			 December 2006 30,694 12,492 
			 January 2007 31,610 13,490 
			 February 2007 31,496 13,838 
			 March 2007 30,632 13,711 
			 April 2007 29,587 13,111 
			 May 2007 28,835 12,496 
			 June 2007 27,564 11,992 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are unrounded. 2. Figures include clerically held cases.  Source:  100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.

Labour Market

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) 20 parliamentary constituencies and  (b) 20 local authorities were with the highest number of job vacancies in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many job vacancies there were in each case.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 26 July 2007
	 The information requested is not available.

Labour Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has  (a) made to and  (b) received from the Migration Advisory Committee since its inception; how many times (i) he and (ii) Ministers in his Department have met the Committee; what communication he has otherwise had with it; and what decisions he has taken which have been informed by the Committee.

Anne McGuire: None. The Committee has not yet met.

Local Employment Partnerships

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how environmental sustainability will be taken into account in developing the 30 local employment partnerships announced on 18 July 2007,  Official Report, column 284.

Caroline Flint: The Green Paper In Work, better off, published on 18 July 2007, sets out Government proposals on the next steps towards achieving full employment. A key element of this is a new partnership with employers, through Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs). These do not aim to create new jobs but to open up more of the many job opportunities already coming up in the economy to long-term unemployed people and other priority jobless groups.
	LEPs will prepare individuals for the world of work, provide the chance to apply for a wider range of jobs and help with the skills and motivation needed to be successful. The detailed design of the programme is currently being developed. However, in conjunction with other initiatives such as DWP's 'city strategy', an important element of Government policy is to promote sustainable and cohesive communities. This means tackling the concentrations of worklessness in certain areas and raising employment rates by enabling more local people to take up the jobs coming up in a local area. This will allow individuals to better support themselves and their families and play a full role in society, as well as supporting wider goals around eliminating child poverty and improving health and well being.

Local Employment Partnerships

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral statement of 18 July 2007,  Official Report, column 280, what his definition is of high-quality wrap-around childcare.

Caroline Flint: High quality childcare is that provided in a setting where parents are happy to leave their children knowing they are safe and well cared for in a stimulating environment. It is provision where staff are properly qualified and well-motivated and where the inspection regime provides the reassurances parents need.
	Wrap-around childcare is care that is available to parents at either end of the school day, enabling them to consider employment and to balance work and family life.

Low Incomes

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people lived in households earning  (a) less than 30 per cent.,  (b) less than 40 per cent.,  (c) less than 50 per cent., and  (d) less than 60 per cent. of (i) median and (ii) mean income in (A) 1997 and (B) 2006.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 23 July 2007
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2005/06 (Revised).
	The estimates for numbers below 30 and 40 per cent. of median and mean income are not available. Figures below the 40 per cent. of income thresholds are not reliable as sample sizes are too small.
	The available information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of individuals (million) below 50 per cent.  of median and mean income: 1996-97 and 2005-06 
			   Below 50 per cent. of median income  Below 50 per cent. of mean income 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 1996-97 5.9 9.4 10.8 14.2 
			 2005-06 5.9 8.6 11.1 13.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of individuals (million) below 60 per cent. of median and mean income: 1996-97 and 2005-06 
			   Below 60 per cent. of median income  Below 60 per cent. of mean income 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 1996-97 10.8 14.0 16.6 18.4 
			 2005-06 10.4 12.8 17.3 19.0

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when a reply will be sent to the constituent of the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight whose reference is CSA 321031224246/NR 185956A.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 July 2007
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Duncan Gilchrist, dated 8 October 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when a reply will be sent to the constituent of the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight whose reference is CSA 321031224246/NR 185956A.
	As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.

Migrant Workers: Labour Market

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the impact of migration on the labour market; and what assessment he has made of the impact of migration on measures to promote welfare to work.

James Plaskitt: In February 2006, DWP published a working paper on the impact of free movement of workers from Central and Eastern Europe on the UK labour market. This is available in the Library.
	DWP also contribute to the quarterly accession monitoring report which is published on the Home Office website.
	We are continuing to monitor the impact of accession country migration on the UK labour market.
	In the last year, despite the effect of EU expansion on the number of workers from the new member states registering to work in the UK, the claimant unemployment count has fallen by over 90,000.
	The availability of new workers from abroad does not reduce the need to ensure that domestic workers have the skills and support they need to compete effectively in the labour market. Over the last 10 years the Government has significantly increased its investment in helping people move back into work, and the recent Green Paper In work, better off: next steps to full employment sets out proposals to further extend the opportunity for individuals to take up one of the 600,000 vacancies that come up each and every month.

Minimum Wage

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hours a week  (a) a lone parent with one child and  (b) a couple with two children earning the minimum wage would have to work to clear the poverty line.

Caroline Flint: The hours a week that families with children would need to work to escape poverty would depend on the individual circumstances of the household, for example the number and age of dependent children, housing costs or benefit, and the wage that any working adult receives. Therefore, the information requested is not available.

National Insurance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many national insurance numbers there are in the national insurance database;
	(2)  how many people are registered in the national insurance database.

James Plaskitt: From the latest information available there are 76,719,264 national insurance numbers on the customer information system, not including child reference numbers.

National Insurance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many duplicate national insurance numbers there are in the national insurance database.

James Plaskitt: From March 2007, DWP's Customer Information System replaced the Departmental Central Index as the national insurance database. Due to the way the Customer Information System is set up, the same national insurance number cannot be allocated twice. However, from time to time we identify national insurance numbers that are being used by more than one person, usually through transcription errors.
	The number of instances where this has occurred is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Cases of a national insurance number being used by more than one individual 
			   Number of cases 
			 2001 2,539 
			 2002 2,418 
			 2003 2,533 
			 2004 1,896 
			 2005 1,991 
			 2006 1,984 
			  Note:  In these cases we take corrective action with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to correct the account.

National Insurance Credits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 47-48WS, on national insurance credits, what his estimate is of the total amount of  (a) overpayments and  (b) underpayments.

James Plaskitt: Initial estimates are that annual potential overpayments could be around 90 million.
	Initial estimates of potential underpayments are around 65 million.
	These estimates do not take into account any entitlement to, or payment of, income-related benefits which would affect the amounts over or under paid.

National Insurance: Fraud

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been reported of  (a) an individual using more than one national insurance number and  (b) a national insurance number being used by more than one individual in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 870W.

National Insurance: Romania

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers have been issued to  (a) Romanian and  (b) Bulgarian citizens since 1 January.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  National Insurance number registrations to Romanian and Bulgarian citizens between 1 January 2007 and 5 April 2007. 
			   Number 
			 Bulgaria 1,680 
			 Romania 2,660 
			  Notes:  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Numbers are based on 100 per cent data from the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS).   Source:  100 per cent sample at 14 May 2007 from the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS).

New Deal for Young People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants on the New Deal for Young People were taking part in the scheme for the second or subsequent time in each month since 1998.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Month of participation  Total number of participants  Number participating for second or subsequent time 
			 July 1998 102,490 180 
			 August 1998 112,800 290 
			 September 1998 120,050 450 
			 October 1998 126,090 700 
			 November 1998 129,940 890 
			 December 1998 133,130 1,110 
			 January 1999 138,490 1,590 
			 February 1999 141,760 2,040 
			 March 1999 144,530 2,610 
			 April 1999 145,560 3,440 
			 May 1999 145,730 4,440 
			 June 1999 144,410 5,460 
			 July 1999 145,990 7,630 
			 August 1999 143,560 9,270 
			 September 1999 138,050 10,910 
			 October 1999 131,360 12,800 
			 November 1999 126,800 14,610 
			 December 1999 127,700 17,240 
			 January 2000 129,470 20,090 
			 February 2000 128,730 22,310 
			 March 2000 128,350 24,640 
			 April 2000 127,090 26,350 
			 May 2000 126,120 28,250 
			 June 2000 122,550 29,620 
			 July 2000 121,980 31,250 
			 August 2000 119,350 32,010 
			 September 2000 111,400 31,730 
			 October 2000 106,430 31,460 
			 November 2000 103,080 31,620 
			 December 2000 103,810 32,740 
			 January 2001 105,820 34,010 
			 February 2001 104,670 34,280 
			 March 2001 103,550 34,290 
			 April 2001 102,950 34,880 
			 May 2001 102,310 35,350 
			 June 2001 99,550 35,160 
			 July 2001 100,220 35,910 
			 August 2001 97,940 35,690 
			 September 2001 94,730 35,240 
			 October 2001 91,600 34,470 
			 November2001 89,410 34,000 
			 December 2001 90,550 34,390 
			 January 2002 92,450 35,080 
			 February 2002 94,370 35,870 
			 March 2002 96,170 36,250 
			 April 2002 97,180 36,570 
			 May 2002 98,110 37,180 
			 June 2002 96,400 36,700 
			 July 2002 97,730 37,160 
			 August 2002 96,110 36,740 
			 September 2002 92,510 35,680 
			 October 2002 89,930 34,770 
			 November 2002 87,530 34,050 
			 December 2002 88,860 34,440 
			 January 2003 92,460 35,340 
			 February 2003 92,870 35,220 
			 March 2003 94,440 35,260 
			 April 2003 94,430 35,420 
			 May 2003 95,150 35,930 
			 June 2003 94,360 35,780 
			 July 2003 96,410 36,600 
			 August 2003 95,690 36,540 
			 September 2003 92,640 35,640 
			 October 2003 88,960 34,580 
			 November 2003 87,320 33,970 
			 December 2003 88,190 34,050 
			 January 2004 90,470 34,480 
			 February 2004 90,300 34,200 
			 March 2004 90,680 34,120 
			 April 2004 90,310 33,870 
			 May 2004 89,940 33,540 
			 June 2004 87,760 32,670 
			 July 2004 87,820 32,620 
			 August 2004 86,460 32,000 
			 September 2004 82,770 31,090 
			 October 2004 78,810 29,670 
			 November 2004 77,610 29,290 
			 December 2004 78,720 29,430 
			 January 2005 80,500 29,560 
			 February 2005 81,400 29,820 
			 March 2005 82,490 29,860 
			 April 2005 83,840 30,260 
			 May 2005 84,670 30,550 
			 June 2005 83,360 30,330 
			 July 2005 85,970 31,250 
			 August 2005 86,480 31,380 
			 September 2005 83,840 30,990 
			 October 2005 82,060 30,600 
			 November 2005 81,310 30,510 
			 December 2005 83,440 31,230 
			 January 2006 86,770 31,920 
			 February 2006 88,390 32,310 
			 March 2006 91,840 33,000 
			 April 2006 93,660 33,500 
			 May 2006 95,930 34,140 
			 June 2006 95,340 34,080 
			 July 2006 97,780 34,760 
			 August 2006 97,790 34,910 
			 September 2006 93,320 33,880 
			 October 2006 90,360 33,340 
			 November 2006 88,380 33,180 
			  Notes: 1. Latest data are to November 2006. 2. All data have been rounded to nearest 10. 3. A person participating on the programme for more than one month will be included in the table for each month that they are participating.  Source: Information Directorate, DWP

New Deal for Young People: Standards

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the interim results of the outcome-related funding pilots currently running in the New Deal for Young People contracts in  (a) Kent,  (b) the Black Country and  (c) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The requested information is not available.

New Deal Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of people leaving  (a) the new deal scheme,  (b) the new deal for lone parents scheme and  (c) the new deal 25 plus scheme claimed benefits within a year of leaving the scheme in each year since 1998.

Caroline Flint: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of new deal leavers who recommenced claiming benefits within 12 months of leaving the programme 
			  Percentage 
			   All new deals  New deal for lone parents  New deal 25 plus 
			 1998 35 19 30 
			 1999 39 19 33 
			 2000 40 19 35 
			 2001 39 19 35 
			 2002 38 21 37 
			 2003 36 20 37 
			 2004 34 19 38 
			 2005 32 19 36 
			  Notes: 1. Latest data are to November 2006, therefore, allowing for a 12-month gap, only new deal leavers to November 2005 are included. 2. The benefits included are bereavement benefit, incapacity benefit, invalid care allowance, income support, jobseeker's allowance, severe disablement allowance and widow's benefit. 3. A benefit claim has only been included if it is a new claim after leaving the new deal spell. People can leave new deal and continue a benefit claim; these people are not included as recommencing a claim to benefit.  Source: Information Directorate, DWP

New Deal Schemes: Standards

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has compared the relative performances in returning numbers of people to work of the New Deal self-employment programme and other employment programmes; whether there are any plans to expand the New Deal programme; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods) and for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 23 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1184-86W.
	We have laid out our plans for the future of new deal in our Green Paper In Work, better off: next steps to full employment which was published on 18 July and which is available in the Library.

New Deal Schemes: Training

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people participated in new deal training in each of the last 36 months.

James Plaskitt: Information is only available for training undertaken through new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal training participants 
			  Month of participation  New deal for young people  New deal 25 plus  Total 
			 December 2003 9,660 6,490 16,150 
			 January 2004 9,600 6,620 16,220 
			 February 2004 9,690 6,670 16,360 
			 March 2004 9,550 6,630 16,180 
			 April 2004 9,270 6,390 15,660 
			 May 2004 9,230 6,320 15,550 
			 June 2004 9,170 6,350 15,520 
			 July 2004 8,990 6,300 15,290 
			 August 2004 8,690 6,270 14,960 
			 September 2004 8,910 6,350 15,260 
			 October 2004 8,970 6,550 15,520 
			 November 2004 9,000 6,620 15,620 
			 December 2004 8,660 6,330 14,990 
			 January 2005 8,830 6,430 15,260 
			 February 2005 9,150 6,760 15,910 
			 March 2005 9,100 6,760 15,860 
			 April 2005 8,720 6,500 15,220 
			 May 2005 8,490 6,040 14,530 
			 June 2005 8,120 5,800 13,920 
			 July 2005 7,620 5,370 12,990 
			 August 2005 7,130 4,990 12,120 
			 September 2005 6,740 4,610 11,350 
			 October 2005 6,300 4,460 10,760 
			 November 2005 6,280 4,390 10,670 
			 December 2005 6,270 4,230 10,500 
			 January 2006 6,310 4,290 10,600 
			 February 2006 6,640 4,480 11,120 
			 March 2006 6,780 4,660 11,440 
			 April 2006 6,850 4,610 11,460 
			 May 2006 6,800 4,350 11,150 
			 June 2006 7,170 4,310 11,480 
			 July 2006 6,940 3,840 10,780 
			 August 2006 7,670 4,010 11,680 
			 September 2006 8,340 4,240 12,580 
			 October 2006 8,800 4,940 13,740 
			 November 2006 9,090 5,410 14,500 
			  Notes: 1. New deal for young people figures include all those participating in the full-time education and training option. 2. New deal 25 plus figures include all those participating in the intensive activity period (IAP) basic employability training/basic skills, IAP education and training opportunity or IAP training. 3. A person participating for more than one month will be included in the table for each month that they are participating. 4. Latest data are to November 2006. 5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions

New Deal Schemes: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in City of York constituency have found work through each of the Government's new deal programmes since their introduction.

Caroline Flint: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal in the City of York 
			  Programme  Individuals into jobs 
			 New deal for young people 1,080 
			 New deal 25 plus 500 
			 New deal for lone parents 1,050 
			 New deal 50 plus 280 
			 New deal for partners  
			 Total 2,910 
			  Notes: 1. New deal for disabled people data are not available at constituency level. 2. New deal for partners data are five or less. 3. Data are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Latest data are to the end of November 2006. 5. New deal 50 plus data include all employment credit starts up to March 2003, and all individuals into employment from April 2003. Some individuals may be counted more than once in these figures. 6. Programme start dates are: new deal for young people: January 1998; new deal 25 plus: July 1998; new deal for lone parents: October 1998; new deal 50 plus: April 2000; new deal for partners: May 1999.   Source:  Information Directorate, DWP, 2007

Occupational Pensions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many adults were members of occupational pension schemes in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Mike O'Brien: Information is not available in the form requested because the Occupational Pension Scheme Survey was carried out at four to five-year intervals until 2004 when it became annual.

Pathways to Work: Interviews

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of work-focused interviews in the Pathways to Work programme have been given by  (a) private sector providers and  (b) voluntary sector providers since the programme's inception.

Caroline Flint: Jobcentre Plus currently delivers Pathways to work in 40 per cent. of the country. Private, voluntary and public sector providers have been invited to bid for contracts in the remaining 60 per cent. of the country, but provision in these areas has not yet commenced. Therefore, since Pathways to Work pilots began in 2003, Jobcentre Plus has delivered all work focused interviews.

Pathways to Work: Psychiatry

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the demand for  (a) cognitive behavioural therapists and  (b) other appropriate therapists in the implementation of the Pathways to Work programme; and what steps he has taken to meet the requirement.

Caroline Flint: No specific assessment has been made. The number of cognitive behavioural therapy-trained staff in each area varies according to local needs and how the condition management programme (CMPs) are delivered. Referral to the CMP will not be necessary for all incapacity benefit customers, nor will it be the first option to consider. Referral will only be appropriate if the customer feels that they cannot return to work yet because of their condition. The incapacity benefit personal adviser will discuss the range of other appropriate therapies and support available to the customer at work focused interviews. Regular contact between the CMP Manager and the Pathways to Work manager is designed to improve the delivery of the programme and enhance the customer experience.
	This Department does not directly recruit practitioners of cognitive behavioural therapy or any other therapists.

Pension Centres

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the overall cost is of the 24 new pension centres.

Mike O'Brien: The Pension Service currently has a network of 18 pension centres.
	The latest available figure for the overall cost of The Pension Service pension centres is 263 million, which covers the period April 2006 to March 2007. This is made up of 208 million for staff and 55 million for other costs.

Pension Centres

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed in the 24 new regional pension centres.

Mike O'Brien: The Pension Service currently has a network of 18 pension centres.
	The latest available figure for the total number of staff employed in these pension centres at the end of May 2007 was 9,145. Due to various working patterns such as part-year contracts and reduced hours, this figure equates to 8,327 whole time equivalent staff.

Pension Credit

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department plans to take further to encourage eligible pensioners to claim the pension credit to which they are entitled.

Mike O'Brien: The Pension Service is undertaking a wide range of steps to encourage eligible pensioners to claim pension credit.
	In our 2007-08 direct mailing programme, we plan to issue over 1 million letters to encourage and remind potential eligible pensioners to apply for pension credit. This will coincide with press advertising and leaflet inserts in newspapers and magazines, which will be aimed at securing the support of friends and family to encourage take-up of pension credit in areas with relatively high numbers of potentially eligible non-recipients.
	To provide a better insight into our customer base, the Pension Service is making use of advanced data analysis techniques to target eligible pensioners to pension credit. The Department sourced data from Experian, a private company who are the UK's largest originators and owners of geo-demographic consumer data, and linked 15 million older peoples' accounts to provide better insight into our customer base. This tool will help us reach customer groups with low pension credit take up.
	We are continuing to expand our partnership working through Joint Working Partnerships between the Pension Service local service, local authorities and the voluntary sector. The Pension Service currently has 180 operational Joint Working Partnerships with primary tier local authorities with a further 22 agreed or in the implementation stages. These partnerships help us to identify harder-to-reach customers and deliver a full and joined up services to older people.
	We are also working in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector on our alternative office network. Alternative offices operate through partnership agreements between the Pension Service, local authorities and the voluntary sector. These offices accept applications from people aged 60 or over for social security benefits.
	In addition, our local service plan to carry out around 680,000 face to face visits during 2007-08, offering a full entitlement check to the poorest and most needy older people. We will also carry out an extensive outbound telephone campaign to those who fail to respond to written invitations to apply, or who drop-out part way through the pension credit application process.
	All of this activity will be supported by information on the Pension Service, DWP and DirectGov (the UK Government's digital service for all public service information and services) websites about our products and services, and continued close working with national and regional press officers to make the most of publicity and media opportunities.
	Finally, as part of the transformation of the Pension Service, people can now claim state pension and pension credit over the phone. If a customer is eligible for pension credit we can also take an application for housing benefit, council tax benefit and carer's allowance during the same phone call. As part of the future programme of transformation, state pension customers will be encouraged to claim pension credit, if appropriate, when they call to notify key changes of circumstances.

Pensioners: Council Tax Benefits

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to raise the council tax benefit savings limit for pensioners.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1735W.

Pensioners: Income

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income of adults over the age of 65 was in each region in each year since 1997 in real terms.

Mike O'Brien: The information that is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average gross income of all pensioner units where the head is aged 65 or over by region (   per week, 2005-06 prices) 
			   1997-98 to 1999-2000  1998-99 to 2000-01  1999-2000  to 2001-02  2000-01 to 2002-03  2001-02 to 2003-04  2002-03 to 2004-05  2003-04 to 2005-06 
			 North East 223 225 234 252 264 279 272 
			 North West 244 256 261 270 276 284 288 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 247 259 263 268 280 289 296 
			 East Midlands 228 234 241 256 264 277 278 
			 West Midlands 247 259 266 273 270 277 292 
			 Eastern 280 288 304 306 312 317 333 
			 London 295 317 332 325 323 325 339 
			 South East 300 314 339 357 355 359 373 
			 South West 269 286 289 299 299 314 321 
			 Wales 238 241 250 259 275 285 293 
			 Scotland 258 258 265 266 274 288 293 
			 England 264 277 288 296 299 307 316 
			 Great Britain 262 273 284 291 296 304 313 
			  Notes: 1. Gross income is income from all sources received by the pensioner unit including income from social security benefits, earnings from employment, any private pension, and tax credits. 2. Based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error. Figures are based on the average of three years' data as single year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Users should not read too much into small differences between regions. 3. Figures are for Great Britain. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest . 5. Pensioner units are either pensioner couples or single pensioners. 6. The head of the benefit unit in most cases will be the same as the head of household. Head of household is classified as the highest income householder (person in whose name the property is owned or rented) without regard to gender. For households where the pensioner benefit unit does not include the head of household, the head of benefit unit will be the first person interviewed in the benefit unit.  Source: Pensioners' Income Series 2005-06 (Revised)

Pensions Regulator

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the powers of the Pensions Regulator; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Judging by the recent high profile successes, the regulator has not so far found its powers a barrier to achieving its statutory objectives. The threat of the potential use of its powers has been effective in enabling the regulator to achieve successful outcomesan approach that is in line with its risk-based regulatory approach.
	The regulator approach is to use its powers where it judges it is appropriate to do soand it has already made significant use of the wide range of powers available to it. We do, however, keep the regulator's powers under review to ensure that it is able to fully discharge its statutory objectives.
	The regulator places a great deal of emphasis on its educative role and this also has proved to be a powerful tool in influencing behaviours and outcomes within the pensions and business community.

Pensions Regulator

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) financial support direction and  (b) contribution notices the Pensions Regulator has imposed.

Mike O'Brien: The Regulator's Determinations Panel has recently determined to issue a Financial Support Direction (FSD). An appeal has subsequently been made to the Pensions Regulator Tribunal. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the FSD will come into effect from the date of determination of that appeal.
	As at 20 July 2007, the regulator has yet to issue a contribution notice.

Pensions: Council Tax

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account he takes of changes in the level of council tax in setting pension rates.

Mike O'Brien: The Secretary of State is required by law to review the levels of state pension and to increase those levels at least in line with prices. It has been the practice for many years to increase state pension in line with the September Retail Prices Index although for some years in the recent past it has increased by more.
	In calculating the Retail Prices Index, account is taken of variations in a wide range of goods and services to reflect the typical change in costs, both increases and decreases, that people face from year to year. This includes average council tax bills for households in Great Britain.

Pensions: Lil-Lets UK Ltd

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the pensions funds situation of Lil-Lets UK Ltd, following the closure of the production facilities by the parent company Electra.

Mike O'Brien: I have received no representations on this matter.

Pensions: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average value of benefits in kind provided by the state was to  (a) single pensioners and  (b) pensioner couples in York in 1996-97 and each year since then in respect of (i) NHS services, (ii) social services, (iii) travel concessions, (iv) television licences, (v) insulation and home repairs and improvements and (vi) other services.

Mike O'Brien: A wide range of services and benefits in kind are available to older people and these are administered both centrally and locally. As a result, the information is not available in the format requested: some information is not collected and some could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information which is available is given as follows.
	(i) NHS services
	People aged 60 and over are able to claim free prescriptions and eye tests on the grounds of age.
	Information on the value of medicines provided by the national health service (NHS) to pensioners in York cannot be provided as the information is only available at primary care trust level and there has never been an NHS organisation serving simply the York area. However, information is available for York and Selby Primary Care Trust which existed from October 2000 to September 2006.
	The following table shows the estimated net ingredient cost (NIC) of medicines dispensed by the NHS in the community, to patients aged 60 and over, in the York and Selby PCT.
	
		
			  Financial year  NIC ()( 1) 
			 2000-01 (October 2000 to March 2001 ) 7,113,267 
			 2001-02 16,031,265 
			 2002-03 18,234,442 
			 2003-04 20,141,851 
			 2004-05 21,771,804 
			 2005-06 21,842,267 
			 (1 )These figures have been taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis database and are estimates based on a sample of prescriptions. 
		
	
	Free NHS sight tests were made available to people aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. Information on the average value of NHS sight tests provided to people aged 60 and over within the area of the former York and Selby PCT is only available on a consistent basis for the three years 2003-04 to 2005-06 and is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of free NHS sight tests given to people aged 60 and over  Estimated cost of NHS sight tests to people aged 60 and over () 
			 2003-04 26,254 453,144 
			 2004-05 26,619 474,351 
			 2005-06 25,057 460,798 
		
	
	Information on the age of adults who qualify for help with other NHS services or the value of such services, such as optical vouchers or relief from dental charges, is not collected centrally.
	(ii)  Social services
	Social services information is not available broken down into single pensioners and pensioner couples. The following table shows the gross current expenditure by York council on social services for people aged 65 or over from 1996-97 to 2005-06.
	
		
			  Gross current expenditure( 1)  by York council on older people (aged 65 or over) 
			  Year (1 April to 31 March)  Gross current expenditure ( thousand) 
			 1996-97 15,200 
			 1997-98 16,300 
			 1998-99 17,400 
			 1999-2000 18,700 
			 2000-01 19,100 
			 2001-02 19,400 
			 2002-03(2) 23,500 
			 2003-04(3) 21,900 
			 2004-05 25,600 
			 2005-06 27,500 
			 (1 )Gross expenditure includes income from client contributions, but excludes capital charges and certain income items which count as expenditure elsewhere in the public sector, such as contributions from primary care trusts. This is to avoid double counting within the aggregate public sector accounts of the money involved. (2) From 2002-03 onwards, the data include clients who transferred to council with social services responsibilities (CSSR) support on 8 April 2002, who were formally in receipt of higher rates of income support under the Department for Work and Pensions preserved rights scheme. (3 )From 2003-04, additional funding was made available to CSSRs via the Supporting People grant.  Source: RO3 and PSS EX1 returns 
		
	
	(iii)  Travel concessions
	Travel concessions are provided through local authorities and information is not held centrally. Funding is through Formula Grant, a block grant, which local authorities are free to spend on any service. Local authorities have flexibility to enhance their schemes beyond the statutory minimum, so there are local variations in what is offered and take-up of concessionary travel schemes varies from one area to another.
	As announced in the 2006 Budget, the national bus concession will be introduced in April 2008. The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 improves the geographic coverage to give those who are eligible free off-peak local bus travel in any part of England. Eligibility on age or disability remains unchanged.
	(iv)  Television licences
	Free television licences for people aged 75 or over were introduced in November 2000. TV Licensing, who administer free licences as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of licences issued. However, figures, shown in the following table, are available for the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming winter fuel payments in York local authority. These people would be eligible for a free television licence.
	
		
			  York local authority area 
			   Number of households with someone aged 75 or over 
			 2004-05 11,685 
			 2005-06 11,930 
			 2006-07(1) 12,070 
			 (1) Main payment run only 
		
	
	Television licence fees for each year since the concession was introduced are shown in the table as follows:
	
		
			   TV licence fees () 
			   Colour  Black and white 
			 2000-01 104.00 34.50 
			 2001-02 109.00 36.50 
			 2002-03 112.00 37.50 
			 2003-04 116.00 38.50 
			 2004-05 121.00 40.50 
			 2005-06 126.50 42.00 
			 2006-07 131.50 44.00 
			 2007-08 135.50 45.50 
		
	
	(v)  Insulation
	The Warm Front Scheme is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in vulnerable households in the private sector in England. Warm Front provides grants for heating, insulation and energy efficiency measures. The following table displays the number of pensioner households that have received Warm Front assistance in the York local authority area since the Scheme's inception in 2000, and the average spend on each of those households.
	
		
			   Number of single pensioner households assisted in York  Average spend per single pensioner household assisted ()  Number of two pensioners households assisted in York  Average spend per 2 pensioner household assisted () 
			 2000-01 63 345.50 16 791.74 
			 2001-02 170 502.44 43 1,156.06 
			 2002-03 184 611.81 46 1,424.28 
			 2003-04 82 748.75 21 1,701.55 
			 2004-05 87 693.71 22 1,596.59 
			 2005-06 199 778.45 102 765.08 
			 2006-07 364 753.92 252 657.25

Personal Income

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the percentage change in net income of each income decile has been in the UK since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2005/06 (Revised).
	The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage change in income decile medians between 1996-97 and 2005-06, in 2005-06 prices 
			  Increase (percentage) 1996 -97 to 2005-06 
			  Decile  Income before housing costs  Income after housing costs 
			 1 12 15 
			 2 24 35 
			 3 24 38 
			 4 22 32 
			 5 20 28 
			 6 19 27 
			 7 18 26 
			 8 18 26 
			 9 18 26 
			 10 23 30 
			  Source: Family Resources Survey

Sick Leave

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) national average rate of absence from work,  (b) public sector average rate of absence from work through sickness and  (c) average rate of absence from work through sickness for the Department for Work and Pensions was in each of the last 10 years.

James Plaskitt: Varying information on sickness absence performance is available.
	The following table is based on information from the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development's (CIPD) annual survey on absence management and represents the average number of days sickness absence per employee per year:
	
		
			   National Average  Public Sector 
			 1998 n/a n/a 
			 1999 9.4 n/a 
			 2000 8.7 n/a 
			 2001 10 n/a 
			 2002 8.9 10.6 
			 2003 9.1 10.7 
			 2004 8.4 10.3 
			 2005 8.0 9.9 
			 2006 8.4 10.3 
		
	
	The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP was created in June 2001. The information provided before 2001 relates only to the former Department for Social Security (the main predecessor to the DWP). Information relating to the old Employment Department is unavailable.
	
		
			   Department for Work and Pensions 
			 1998 10.8 
			 1999 10.9 
			 2000 11.0 
			 2001 11.1 
			 2002 10.8 
			 2003 11.6 
			 2004 9.6 
			 2005 10.1 
			 2006 n/a

Sick Leave

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of long-term sick leave which is due to arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems.

Anne McGuire: In 2005-06, an estimated 9.5 million working days were lost to musculoskeletal disorders. This averages out at an estimated 17 days lost in each case, and is nearly a third of the estimated 30.5 million working days that were lost, in total, to work-related ill heath and injury in 2005-06.
	We do not have estimates separately available for days lost specifically to arthritis.

Sick Pay: General Practitioners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in the provision of employment advisers in GP surgeries to advise on sick notes for statutory sick pay; and what evaluation he has made of pilot studies on such provision.

Caroline Flint: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 13 September 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what progress has been made on the provision of employment advisers in GP surgeries to advise on sick notes for statutory sick pay and what evaluation has been made of the pilot. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	We are currently piloting a Pathways Advisory Service (PAS) in GP surgeries within some Pathways to Work districts. The intention of this pilot is to test a gateway service where the personal adviser based within the surgery will provide advice on a range of work-related issues which patients may raise, and signpost them to appropriate Jobcentre Plus or external provision. Access to the PAS is voluntary, by self-referral or recommendation from a health professional and is open to any patient, although it is focused primarily on those claiming incapacity benefit or statutory sick pay. The PAS is being piloted in eight locations.
	While Jobcentre Plus advisers will support customers on statutory sick pay, they do not give advice on sick notes. They do not become involved with the individual's health situation or discussions around sickness certification, other than that which the individual is happy to divulge.
	The PAS is being evaluated by an independent research partnership, the University of York's Social Policy Research Unit and the National Centre for Social Research. The evaluation is due to report early in 2008.
	I hope this is helpful.

Social Fund

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking in liaison with the Social Fund Commissioner to improve the accuracy of decision-making with regard to the Social Fund.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Jobcentre Plus and the Independent Review Service are currently developing a quality framework with the aim of improving the accuracy of Social Fund decision-making.

Social Security Benefits

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the amount of customer error underpayments was for  (a) pension credit,  (b) jobseeker's allowance and  (c) income support due to incorrect declaration of (i) full-time earnings, (ii) part-time earnings, (iii) partner earnings, (iv) capital, (v) dependants, (vi) income, (vii) a partner, (viii) identification, (ix) address, (x) housing costs, (xi) other benefits, (xii) college, (xiii) hospitalisation, (xiv) maintenance payments, (xv) non-dependants, (xvi) a prison stay and (xvii) other in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available prior to 2003-04. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Estimated customer error underpayments in 2003-04 
			   million 
			  Reason  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit and minimum income guarantee 
			 Full-time earnings 0 0 0 
			 Part-time earnings 2 0 0 
			 Partner earnings 0 0 2 
			 Capital 1 1 4 
			 Dependants 14 4 2 
			 Income 0 0 1 
			 Partner 0 2 0 
			 Identification 0 0 0 
			 Address 0 0 0 
			 Housing Costs 0 0 1 
			 Other benefits 21 3 14 
			 College 0 0 0 
			 Hospitalisation 0 0 0 
			 Maintenance Payments 3 0 0 
			 Non-dependants 0 1 0 
			 Prison stay 0 0 0 
			 Other 4 0 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated customer error underpayments in 2004-05 
			   million 
			  Reason  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			 Full-time earnings 0 0 0 
			 Part-time earnings 1 0 0 
			 Partner earnings 0 0 0 
			 Capital 1 1 2 
			 Dependants 8 1 1 
			 Income 3 0 3 
			 Partner 1 0 0 
			 Identification 0 0 0 
			 Address 0 0 0 
			 Housing Costs 0 0 0 
			 Other benefits 20 0 19 
			 College 0 0 0 
			 Hospitalisation 0 0 0 
			 Maintenance Payments 3 0 0 
			 Non-dependants 0 0 0 
			 Prison stay 0 0 0 
			 Other 3 0 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated customer error underpayments in 2005-06 
			   million 
			  Reason  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credi t 
			 Earnings 2 0 1 
			 Partner earnings 0 0 0 
			 Capital 1 1 1 
			 Dependants 1 0 0 
			 Income 2 0 2 
			 Partner 1 1 0 
			 Identification 0 0 0 
			 Address 0 0 0 
			 Housing Costs 0 0 0 
			 Other benefits 26 0 14 
			 College 0 0 0 
			 Hospitalisation 0 0 0 
			 Maintenance Payments 3 0 0 
			 Non-dependants 0 0 0 
			 Prison stay 0 0 0 
			 Other 11 0 1 
			  Notes :  1. All the figures are estimates, derived from a random sample of benefit claims and are subject to sampling and other uncertainties. 2. All estimates have been rounded to the nearest 1 million. 3. Pension credit was introduced in October 2003 as a replacement for the minimum income guarantee (MIG). Estimates for 2003-04 are for MIG and pension credit combined. 4. The estimates presented for 2005-06 do not distinguish between full-time and part-time earnings.

Social Security Benefits

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the amount of customer error and fraud overpayments were for  (a) pension credit,  (b) jobseeker's allowance and  (c) income support due to incorrect declaration of (i) full-time earnings, (ii) part-time earnings, (iii) partner earnings, (iv) capital, (v) dependants, (vi) income, (vii) a partner, (viii) identification, (ix) address, (x) housing costs, (xi) other benefits, (xii) college, (xiii) hospitalisation, (xiv) maintenance payments, (xv) non-dependants, (xvi) a prison stay and (xvii) other in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available for 1997-98 and 1999-2000. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments in 1998-99 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Income support pensioners 
			 Full-time earnings 123 179 3 
			 Part-time earnings 19 6 1 
			 Partner earnings 10 13 2 
			 Capital 23 10 54 
			 Dependants 31 4 1 
			 Income 32 7 27 
			 Partner 196 16 2 
			 Address and identification 47 20 19 
			 Housing costs and other benefits 22 3 7 
			 Other 50 12 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2000-01 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Income support pensioners 
			 Full-time earnings 108 107 4 
			 Part-time earnings 18 10 1 
			 Partner earnings 10 10 3 
			 Capital 19 11 55 
			 Dependants 37 3 2 
			 Income 44 5 19 
			 Partner 164 18 1 
			 Identification 2 1 0 
			 Address 51 18 10 
			 Housing costs 4 1 2 
			 Other benefits 32 3 22 
			 College 3 11 0 
			 Other 50 21 43 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2001-02 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Minimum income guarantee 
			 Full-time earnings 86 78 8 
			 Part-time earnings 21 5 1 
			 Partner earnings 16 6 5 
			 Capital 34 9 46 
			 Dependants 40 5 2 
			 Income 32 13 26 
			 Partner 160 21 8 
			 Identification 1 0 0 
			 Address 41 23 8 
			 Housing costs 1 0 2 
			 Other benefits 31 4 13 
			 College 2 1 0 
			 Other 74 21 50 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2002-03 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Minimum income guarantee 
			 Full-time earnings 71 68 0 
			 Part-time earnings 25 3 1 
			 Partner earnings 16 3 1 
			 Capital 31 13 41 
			 Dependants 56 6 2 
			 Income 27 6 32 
			 Partner 174 13 8 
			 Identification 0 1 0 
			 Address 49 16 5 
			 Housing costs 0 1 1 
			 Other benefits 26 3 9 
			 College 4 1 0 
			 Hospitalisation 0 0 3 
			 Maintenance payments 16 1 0 
			 Non-dependants 2 0 0 
			 Prison stay 3 0 0 
			 Other 33 8 25 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2003-04 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit and minimum income guarantee 
			 Full-time earnings 52 39 6 
			 Part-time earnings 16 4 7 
			 Partner earnings 10 2 2 
			 Capital 37 15 40 
			 Dependants 43 8 1 
			 Income 20 9 35 
			 Partner 138 15 4 
			 Identification 0 1 0 
			 Address 26 18 8 
			 Housing costs 0 0 0 
			 Other benefits 16 5 18 
			 College 5 1 0 
			 Hospitalisation 0 0 3 
			 Maintenance payments 13 3 0 
			 Non-dependants 0 1 2 
			 Prison stay 4 0 0 
			 Other 37 15 38 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2004-05 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			 Full-time earnings 34 16 2 
			 Part-time earnings 12 3 2 
			 Partner earnings 10 4 6 
			 Capital 42 8 34 
			 Dependants 37 6 2 
			 Income 33 11 33 
			 Partner 92 9 5 
			 Identification 0 0 0 
			 Address 19 11 11 
			 Housing costs 2 0 1 
			 Other benefits 17 2 23 
			 College 3 1 0 
			 Hospitalisation 1 0 1 
			 Maintenance payments 15 1 1 
			 Non-dependants 0 0 1 
			 Prison stay 6 1 0 
			 Other 23 7 31 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated fraud and customer error overpayments i n 2005-06 
			   million 
			  Estimated overpayments (reason)  Income support working age  Jobseeker's allowance  Pension credit 
			 Earnings 36 18 8 
			 Partner earnings 10 5 3 
			 Capital 50 8 33 
			 Dependants 27 1 0 
			 Income 24 3 36 
			 Partner 66 5 4 
			 Identification 0 0 0 
			 Address 12 1 3 
			 Housing costs 0 0 0 
			 Other benefits 38 1 19 
			 College 0 1 0 
			 Hospitalisation 2 0 0 
			 Maintenance payments 17 0 0 
			 Non-dependants 0 0 0 
			 Prison stay 3 0 0 
			 Other 46 15 32 
			  Notes: 1. All the figures are estimates, derived from a random sample of benefit claims and are subject to sampling and other uncertainties. 2. All estimates have been rounded to the nearest 1 million. 3. Estimates are not available in this form for 1997-98 and 1999-2000. 4. Pension credit was introduced in October 2003 as a replacement for the minimum income guarantee (MIG). Estimates for 2003-04 are for MIG and pension credit combined. 5. All income support pensioners estimates have been presented separately from income support working age, for comparison with the minimum income guarantee and pension credit. 6. Prior to 2002-03, separate estimates for hospitalisation, maintenance payments, non-dependants and prison stays have been included in the 'other' category, as was 'college' for 1998-99. 7. The estimates presented for 2005-06 do not distinguish between full-time and part-time earnings.

Social Security Benefits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received  (a) housing benefit,  (b) incapacity benefit,  (c) jobseeker's allowance,  (d) carer's allowance and  (e) disability living allowance in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

James Plaskitt: The information has been placed in the Library.

Social Security Benefits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those in receipt of  (a) income support,  (b) incapacity benefit and  (c) jobseeker's allowance in each year since 1997 had been on benefit for more than 12 months; and what proportion of claimants those figures represent in each year.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Income support (IS) claimants with duration of more than 12 months 
			  Quarter ending November  Number  Percentage 
			 1997 1,701,600 74.6 
			 1998 1,678,400 75.4 
			 1999 1,688,240 74.9 
			 2000 1,732,340 76.7 
			 2001 1,767,800 78.3 
			 2002 1,763,670 78.6 
			 2003 1,754,780 79.1 
			 2004 1,740,100 80.3 
			 2005 1,712,620 80.5 
			 2006 1,702,540 79.9 
			  Notes:  1. November 1997 and November 1998 figures are produced from 5 per cent. data, uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest 100.  2. Figures after November 1999 are produced from WPLS and rounded to the nearest 10.  3. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS and 5 per cent. sample. 
		
	
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit (IB)/Severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants with claim durations of more than 12 months 
			  Quarter ending November  Number  Percentage 
			 1997 2,264,200 79.8 
			 1998 2,279,500 82.4 
			 1999 2,229,340 81.4 
			 2000 2,269,640 82.1 
			 2001 2,312,960 83.0 
			 2002 2,327,100 82.6 
			 2003 2,362,260 83.7 
			 2004 2,367,820 84.1 
			 2005 2,352,650 85.5 
			 2006 2,314,110 85.2 
			  Notes:  1. November 1997 and November 1998 figures are produced from 5 per cent. data, uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest 100.  2. Figures after November 1999 are produced from WPLS and rounded to the nearest 10.  3. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS and 5 per cent sample. 
		
	
	
		
			  Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) claimants with claim durations of more than 12 months 
			  Quarter ending November  Number  Percentage 
			 1997 385,620 29.2 
			 1998 317,780 26.1 
			 1999 260,635 23.8 
			 2000 204,475 21.4 
			 2001 161,130 18.3 
			 2002 135,750 15.8 
			 2003 130,435 15.5 
			 2004 119,135 15.5 
			 2005 120,060 14.3 
			 2006 152,770 17.1 
			  Notes:  1. Caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.  2. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.   Source:  100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.

Social Security Benefits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people receiving  (a) disability living allowance,  (b) severe disablement allowance,  (c) housing benefit,  (d) independent living fund,  (e) incapacity benefit,  (f) community care grant,  (g) disabled facilities grant,  (h) industrial injuries disablement benefit,  (i) carers' allowance and  (j) income support.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Numbers of disabled people in receipt of benefits: GB 
			   Date  Claimants 
			 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) November 2006 2,845,750 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) November 2006 273,190 
			 Housing Benefit (HB) with Disability Premium May 2004 946,000 
			 Independent Living Fund (ILF) July 2007 20,003 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) November 2006 2,441,030 
			 Community Care Grant (CCG) 2005-06 95,910 
			 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) September 2006 336,020 
			 Carers' Allowance (CA) November 2006 458,930 
			 Income Support (IS) with Disability Premium November 2006 1,114,020 
			  Notes: 1. IS figures exclude residual MIG claimants. 2. IS, SDA, IB, DLA, CA and IIDB figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and HB figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. 3. HB figures are based on one per cent samples and are subject to sampling variation while IS, SDA, IB, DLA, CA are based on 100 per cent. data. 4. HB data excludes any Extended Payment cases. 5. For HB and IS, disabled claimants have been defined as those in receipt of a disability premium. 6. Totals for DLA, CA and IIDB show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 7. Community Care Grants are not on-going benefits but one-off payments. Some applicants may make more than one successful application during one year. 8. The initial decision on a Community Care Grant application may, at the applicant's request, be reviewed by Jobcentre Plus and then possibly also by the Independent Review Service for the Social Fund. 9. Community Care Grant applications included those where: The applicant was disabled. The final decision was in 2005-06. (The final decision on an application is the initial decision if the application was not reviewed or the final review decision if the application went to review.)  The application was successful (that is, an award was made either initially and/or on review). From these applications, the number of successful disabled applicants has been counted. 10. The figure for Community Care Grants has been rounded to the nearest 10.  Sources: 1. 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 2. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample. 3. Information Directorate 100 per cent. QSE data. 4. Independent Living Funds. 5. Scan of the Community Care Grant final decisions taken in 2005-06 and held on the Social Fund Computer System on 30 September 2006. 
		
	
	The Disabled Facilities Grant is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people of working age were  (a) claiming out-of-work benefits,  (b) claiming unemployment benefit,  (c) lone parents claiming income support,  (d) claiming incapacity benefit and  (e) claiming any other out-of-work benefit in (i) May 1992, (ii) May 1997 and (iii) May 1999.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of claimants of out-of-work benefits in Great Britain 
			   Quarter ending 
			   May 1992  May 1997  May 1999 
			 Total claiming out of work benefits n/a 5,442,700 5,033,100 
			 Unemployed 2,592,600 1,556,000 1,220,300 
			 Incapacity benefits 1,891,200 2,616,300 2,653,900 
			 Income support lone parents 956,700 1,014,200 936,600 
			 Other income support n/a 256,200 222,300 
			 n/a=figures not available  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Figures constructed using NOMIS claimant count data, 5 per cent. and 1 per cent. sample data. 3. Incapacity benefit (IB) replaced invalidity benefit (IVB) and sickness benefit (SB) in April 1995. 4. All figures are GB (not seasonally adjusted), except jobseeker's allowance (JSA) which is seasonally adjusted. 5. Incapacity benefits category is made up of IVB, SB and severe disability allowance (SDA) claimants for May 1992, and IB/SDA claimants thereafter. 6. Unemployed category is taken from the seasonally adjusted JSA claimant count for GB published by ONS. Time series data are available from www.nomisweb.co.uk. This 100 per cent. series is the most reliable and up-to-date source for claimant unemployment. 7. This table includes the main out-of-work client group categories, with the exception of carers who are not subject to activation policies in the same way as other groups. 8. This series consists of an earlier consistent series for caseload created by combining older information, available from the previously published 5 per cent. sample data, with the WPLS data. The series are published by DWP at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/timeseriesIBSDA.xls and http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/timeseriesIS.xls. 9. Figures contain a small number of overlap cases of Lone parents on income support who are also receiving incapacity benefits. 10. Figures exclude around 86,000 claimants in receipt of income support and carers allowance.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample scans of IS, IB, SDA, and seasonally adjusted count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems.

Social Security Benefits: EC Nationals

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down by nationality the number of national insurance numbers issued to EU citizens since 1st January 2004.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  National insurance number registrations to EU citizens between 1 January 2004 and 5 April 2007. 
			   Number 
			 Austria 4,640 
			 Belgium 5,730 
			 Bulgaria 12,440 
			 Cyprus 3,070 
			 Czech Rep 32,730 
			 Denmark 7,230 
			 Finland 4,330 
			 France 55,130 
			 Germany 42,200 
			 Greece 10,720 
			 Hungary 23,730 
			 Italy 34,940 
			 Luxembourg 220 
			 Malta 1,810 
			 Netherlands 24,060 
			 Poland 460,780 
			 Portugal 39,640 
			 Rep of Estonia 6,900 
			 Rep of Ireland 32,210 
			 Rep of Latvia 32,230 
			 Rep of Lithuania 72,230 
			 Rep of Slovenia 1,880 
			 Romania 11,730 
			 Slovak Rep 68,220 
			 All EU 1,038,470 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Numbers are based on 100 per cent. data from the national insurance recording system (NIRS).  Source: 100 per cent. sample at 14 May 2007 from the national insurance recording system (NIRS).

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was lost due to  (a) benefit fraud and  (b) error in the granting of benefits in each year since 1997.

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) fraud and  (b) error in benefit payments administered by his Department in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Reliable estimates are not available from 1997-98 to 1999-2000. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Fraud and error in benefit payments 
			   billion 
			   Fraud  Error 
			 2000-01 2.2 1.1 
			 2001-02 2.2 1.2 
			 2002-03 1.8 1.3 
			 2003-04 1.0 1.6 
			 2004-05 0.8 1.7 
			 2005-06 0.7 1.9 
			  Notes:  1. The 2005-06 results in the table were first published as National Statistics in February 2007. However, the forthcoming DWP Resource Account will include a restatement of a previous estimate of 2005-06 overpayments, which will differ slightly from this estimate. The 2005-06 results are also being rebaselined, and an updated version will be published as National Statistics later in 2007. 2. From 2003-04 the methodology for estimating fraud and error changed, and pre 2003-04 estimates are not directly comparable with those since.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of fraudulent claims for  (a) pension credit,  (b) winter fuel payment,  (c) attendance allowance,  (d) disability living allowance,  (e) carer's allowance,  (f) housing benefit,  (g) statutory sick pay,  (h) incapacity benefit,  (i) income support and  (j) jobseeker's allowance in each year from 1997 to 2007.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of fraud and error in income support, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit and housing benefit can be found in National Statistics reports, and additional tables on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd2/fraud_error.asp.
	No estimates are available for attendance allowance, winter fuel payments or statutory sick pay. The available estimates for other benefits are in the following tables. These estimates are consistent with the methodology used for those presented for 2003-04 onwards in the Department's resource accounts. For some benefits, estimates before 2003-04 will differ from figures published earlier due to improved assumptions and methodology.
	
		
			  Estimates of fraud in carer's allowance 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			 1996-97 3.9 30 
			 1997-98 3.9 30 
			 1998-99 3.9 30 
			 1999-2000 3.9 30 
			 2000-01 3.9 30 
			 2001-02 3.9 40 
			 2002-03 3.9 40 
			 2003-04 3.9 40 
			 2004-05 3.9 40 
			 2005-06 3.9 40 
			  Notes:  1. Carer's allowance is not reviewed regularly. These estimates are based on the assumption that the percentage of expenditure overpaid has remained constant since it was last reviewed in 1996.  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10 million. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimates of fraud in incapacity benefit 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			 2000-01 0.1 10 
			 2001-02 0.1 10 
			 2002-03 0.1 10 
			 2003-04 0.1 10 
			 2004-05 0.1 10 
			 2005-06 0.1 10 
			  Notes:  1. Fraud and error in incapacity benefit is not measured every year. The last full review was in 2000-01. As there has been no measurement in other years, it is assumed that the percentage level of fraud and customer error have remained constant. All of the fraud and customer error estimates are calculated by applying the percentage overpaid in 2000-01 to the annual expenditure on incapacity benefit.  2. As the measurement system is based on the examination of a sample of the incapacity benefit caseload, the estimates are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty.  3. Estimates rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. or 10 million. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimates of fraud in disability living allowance 
			   Percentage of overspend  Overpaid ( million) 
			
			 2001-02 0.5 30 
			 2002-03 0.5 30 
			 2003-04 0.5 40 
			 2004-05 0.5 40 
			 2005-06 0.5 40 
			  Notes:  1. DLA was last reviewed in 2005. Estimates for 2003-04 onwards, as presented in the Department's Resource Accounts are based on the assumption that the proportion of expenditure overpaid has not changed.  2. The 2004-05 DLA National Benefit Review identified cases where the change in customer's needs have been so gradual that it would be unreasonable to expect them to know at which point their entitlement to DLA might have changed. These cases do not result in a recoverable overpayment as we cannot quantify or define when the customer's change occurred.  3. Because legislation requires the Secretary of State to prove that entitlement to DLA is incorrect, rather than requiring the customer to inform us that their needs have changed, cases in this subcategory are legally correct. The difference between what claimants in these cases are receiving in DLA and what they would receive if their benefit was reassessed is estimated to be around 600 million a year.  4. Estimates rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. or 10 million. The totals may appear different from the sum of the components due to this rounding.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the initiatives taken by the Government since 1997 to tackle benefit fraud; and what the  (a) cost of the initiative,  (b) value of the fraud discovered and  (c) number of prosecutions resulting from the initiative was in each case.

James Plaskitt: It is not possible to separate the total cost of the fraud reduction elements of the Department's work. The Department's overall aim is to have a benefit system which is accurate from first claim to final payment. This means safeguarding the benefit system from loss due to fraud is integral to the work of staff in benefits administration as well as those working specifically on fraud.
	Since 1997, the Department has developed and implemented a comprehensive strategy for reducing fraud. On 13 October 2005, the Government published their strategy paper Reducing Fraud in the Benefit System - Achievements and Ambitions. Fraud is now at its lowest ever recorded; figures for 2005-06 show fraud estimated to be 0.7 billion (0.6 per cent. of benefit spend) around two thirds lower than estimated for 2000-01 (2 billion, 2 per cent. of benefit spend).

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who were investigated for benefit fraud were subsequently  (a) cautioned and  (b) prosecuted and convicted in each year since 1997; and how many of those convicted received (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a community sentence and (iii) a discharge in each year.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available before 1999-2000. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of people investigated for benefit fraud who were subsequently cautioned or convicted 
			   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Cautions 5,548 7,841 7,029 7,084 8,131 9,995 10,543 11,976 
			 Convictions 8,768 11,136 10,911 9,044 8,724 8,097 8,103 6,332 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of DWP fraud convictions that led to custodial sentences, community sentences and discharges 
			   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Imprisonment 445 523 501 345 381 344 411 262 
			 Imprisonment Suspended 99 125 158 93 111 133 250 481 
			 Community Service 2,178 2,667 3,017 2,762 2,524 2,423 2,833 2,353 
			 Conditional Discharge 2,492 3,283 3,113 2,622 2,864 2,589 2,374 1,704 
			 Absolute Discharge 126 114 155 99 80 70 71 67 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include general matching service and instrument of payment cases. 2. Figures exclude organised fraud cases.  Source DWP Fraud Information by Sector computer system.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value of benefit fraud was in respect of cases investigated resulting in  (a) cautions and  (b) prosecutions in each year since 1997; and what those values were broken down by benefit.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) council tax benefit fraud were detected in each year since 1997; and how many successful prosecutions were brought in each year.

James Plaskitt: Figures for detected fraud by local authorities are not available. The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Successful Prosecutions by Local Authorities for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Fraud 
			   Number 
			 1997-98 700 
			 1998-99 800 
			 1999-2000 860 
			 2000-01 1,100 
			 2001-02 1,732 
			 2002-03 2,503 
			 2003-04 3,747 
			 2004-05 4,688 
			 2005-06 6,234 
			 2006-07 5,727 
			  Source:  From 2001-02 onwards the numbers of prosecutions are taken from subsidy claim forms. Prior to this the numbers are taken from management information returns.

Social Security Benefits: ICT

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes  (a) have been made and  (b) are planned to IT systems in order to enable the delivery of the employment and support allowance.

Caroline Flint: No changes have made to IT systems to enable the Delivery of employment and support allowance at this stage.
	The Employment and Support Allowance IS/IT Feasibility Study recommended a technical solution for the employment and support allowance which builds on existing successful IS/IT developments within DWP. This is mainly made up of a:
	Siebel front-end based on the re-use of Pensions Transformation Project Customer Account Management.
	New legacy mainframe-based service built on an extension of jobseeker's allowance payment system for payment and award functionality.
	This is the bulk of the IS/IT change required for employment and support allowance (ESA) introduction.
	However, like any major welfare reform the ESA programme will have wide-ranging impacts throughout DWP, other Government Departments and local authorities. To date, the programme has identified and engaged a range of internal and external stakeholders and have IS/IT plans at various stages of maturity.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single  (a) women and  (b) men with children had their benefits withdrawn in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

State Retirement Pensions: Overseas Residence

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many UK state pensions were paid to people residing in each country outside the European Economic Area with which the UK does not have a reciprocal social security arrangement covering uprating of UK state pensions in each year since 1997, broken down by country.

Mike O'Brien: The information is lengthy and detailed and therefore has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has undertaken into the merits of time-limited unemployment benefits.

James Plaskitt: The Department has not carried out any recent research into the merits of time-limiting unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Benefits: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on benefits for unemployed people in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in (i) April 1997 and (ii) in the most recent month for which figures are available, broken down by type of benefit.

James Plaskitt: The information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Spend on benefits for unemployed people in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2006-07 
			   million (2007-08 prices) 
			   1997-98  2006-07 
			  Eastbourne Local Authority District   
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-based) 5.2 3.8 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution-based) 0.9 0.3 
			
			  East Sussex County   
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-based) 27.6 15.5 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution-based) 4.1 2.3 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. Figures are consistent with Budget 2007 published expenditure. 3. Figures cover the financial years 1997-98, and 2006-07; monthly figures are not comparable due to seasonality of unemployment. 4. Figures for 2006-07 are estimates, including partially forecast information. 5. Expenditure at this level is estimated using 5 per cent. samples and figures are therefore subject to sampling variation. 6. Jobseeker's allowance (income-based) figures include claimants in receipt of income-based jobseeker's allowance who would also be entitled to the contributory element. 7. Jobseeker's allowance (contribution-based) figures include claimants in receipt of income-based jobseeker's allowance who would also be entitled to the contributory element. Only the amount of income-based award above the level of contribution-based award is included in this. 8. A significant proportion of jobseeker's allowance recipients also receive housing benefit and council tax benefit. Information on expenditure on these benefits is not available at this level. 9. East Sussex county does not include Brighton and Hove unitary authority.  Source: DWP Expenditure tables and Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples.

Unemployment Benefits: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of benefits paid to people who were unemployed and seeking work in the City of York in  (a) 1996 and  (b) 2006-07, at 2006-07 prices.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The cost of benefits paid to people who were unemployed and seeking work in the City of York constituency was 9.9 million in 1996-97 in 2006-07 prices, and is estimated to be 4.3 million in 2006-07.
	 Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate 5 per cent. and 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study data and Department for Work and Pensions Benefit Expenditure Forecasts.

Unemployment: Social Rented Housing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the incidence of unemployment and economic inactivity in social housing tenants.

James Plaskitt: DWP provided a significant amount of analysis for Professor John Hills, who carried out an assessment of the role of social housing in the 21 century.
	The Department has commissioned the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam university to undertake research into the links between social housing and worklessness. The research is expected to report towards the end of this year.
	The Department is also currently carrying out analysis to quantify how much worklessness in the social rented sector is explained by characteristics of social tenants.

Vacancies: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unfilled job vacancies there were at York Jobcentre at  (a) 1 January and  (b) 1 July in each year since 2000.

Caroline Flint: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of unfilled vacancies at York Jobcentre 
			 July 2004 4,510 
			 January 2005 3,650 
			 July 2005 3,180 
			 January 2006 2,650 
			 July 2006 1,580 
			 January 2007 1,190 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Information is only available at parliamentary constituency level and below from April 2004. 3. Figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market. There are two Jobcentres in York; Stonebow House and Monkgate. Figures are for York vacancies which are registered at Stonebow House but available to the public at both offices.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Charter of Fundamental Rights (EU)

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will list the representations made to him on the justiciability of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the United Kingdom, under the auspices of the draft EU treaty on constitutional arrangements;
	(2)  what  (a) political and  (b) legal agreements were made at the EU Foreign Ministers meeting of 7 and 8 September in relation to the draft EU treaty on constitutional arrangements; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the Government requested changes to the wording of the draft EU treaty on constitutional arrangements in relation to the Charter of Fundamental Rights at the EU Foreign Ministers meeting of 7 and 8 September;
	(4)  whether he has had any discussions with representatives of the trade unions on the justiciability of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the UK under the auspices of the draft EU treaty on constitutional arrangements;
	(5)  whether the United Kingdom has an opt out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights appended to the draft EU treaty on constitutional arrangements.

Jim Murphy: There has never been a draft EU Treaty on constitutional arrangements. The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, on which the Government proposed a referendum, is now defunct. The mandate for a Reform Treaty agreed by the European Council states clearly:
	The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called Constitution, is abandoned.

China: Hacking

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Government have collected on the hacking into of  (a) Government,  (b) Parliament and  (c) UK commerce and industry computers and databases from China; and what action he has taken with the Chinese Government to halt such activity.

Jim Murphy: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on national security issues.
	Attacks on computer systems are an increasing world-wide phenomenon, and the need to manage the consequent risks to information held on these systems is taken very seriously by the Government. Both the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and Communications Electronic Security Group (part of Government Communications Headquarters) play a key role in providing IT security advice to UK Government and industry, and a framework of measures is in place to protect vital systems from attacks.

Departments: Minister for Women

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) ministerial committees and  (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Ministers for Women.

Jim Murphy: No ministerial committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for liaison with the Ministers for Women. As with all cross-cutting issues, FCO Ministers and officials liaise with the Ministers for Women when relevant.

Iraq: Entry Clearances

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in reviewing the applications of Iraqi interpreters who have worked for British forces in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 10 September 2007
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 8 August, we are extremely grateful for the service of locally employed staff in Iraq and recognise that there are concerns about their safety. Interested Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development and the Home Office are reviewing, as a matter of urgency, the assistance we provide to Iraqis who work, or have worked, for the Government.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) action the UK Government has taken and  (b) discussions it has had since 1 July on the future status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The UK has been working with our partners in the Contact Group and with other members of the Security Council to resolve Kosovo's final status. Following Russian opposition to a Security Council resolution implementing UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari's proposals, the Contact Group agreed to establish a further period of discussions between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by an EU-US-Russia Troika. The Contact Group will report back to the UN Secretary-General on those discussions by 10 December.
	The UK has engaged extensively on the Kosovo issue. The UK has participated in numerous Contact Group discussions with the Troika. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has also discussed Kosovo with EU Troika representative Ambassador Ischinger, with UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari, in EU Foreign Ministers' meetings and in bilateral discussions with EU colleagues. We have also remained in close touch with Belgrade and Pristina, encouraging them to engage constructively in the process. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be chairing a ministerial meeting of the Contact Group, along with the Troika, in New York on 27 September.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the implementation of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement; whether the deadlines in Appendix A of the agreement have been met; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 1587-88W.

Turkey: Kurds

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the killing of Kurdish civilians in Turkey by Turkish armed forces and law enforcement agencies over the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We are aware of a number of Kurds having been killed in Turkey over the last three months. The Turkish authorities report that all those killed by the armed forces were terrorists directly involved in combat operations in the ongoing Kurdish separatist struggle in the south-east. We are also aware of a number of Turkish army personnel having been killed in the region, both in security operations and in periodic attacks by separatists on Turkish army targets.
	The overall socio-economic situation in the south-east remains difficult and we continue to press the Turkish government to pursue a comprehensive strategy of reforms to resolve outstanding issues.

Zimbabwe: Diplomatic Relations

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions British ambassadors, high commissioners or other diplomatic staff have met  (a) Robert Mugabe and  (b) other members of the Zimbabwean Government in the last three years, broken down by (i) date and (ii) place of meeting.

Jim Murphy: In the last three years, there have been two formal meetings with President Mugabe when our former and current ambassadors presented credentials at State House. These were in July 2004 and February 2006. Over the same period, a broad range of contacts have taken place between British diplomats and members of the Government of Zimbabwe as well as other Zimbabweans. These have included both formal meetings on issues of interest/concern and informal encounters at various events where views have been exchanged. A fully comprehensive record of all such meetings and encounters is not maintained.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 284-85W, on asylum seekers, 
	(1)  whether the working group on asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers will include representatives of local authorities with the highest number of failed asylum seekers awaiting deportation;
	(2)  what  (a) resources and  (b) information the working group on asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers will have available to them;
	(3)  what commitment she has made to implement the recommendations of the working group on asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what powers the working group on asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers will have to obtain information on the costs of supporting failed asylum seekers not funded by her Department from local authorities;
	(5)  when the working group on asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers will be established; and on the basis of which criteria its members will be selected.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Since the original proposal for the establishment of a working group, we have concluded that this would not be the best way to move forward the specific concerns raised by local authorities and other steps have therefore been taken. The Border and Immigration Agency has carried out a formal public consultation on the arrangements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) which includes specific proposals addressing local authority concerns about arrangements for leaving care support for former UASC. On concerns relating to local authority support for people with no recourse to public funds, the Agency has been working closely with the No Recourse to Public Funds National Network (NN NRPF) which was established to address the challenges faced by local authorities in dealing with the NRPF issue. In 2006-07 the Border and Immigration Agency provided the network with a funding grant towards the cost of setting up and co-ordinating network activities and work is in progress to further enhance our relationship and partnership working with the network.
	The Border and Immigration Agency liaises with authorities locally through the offices of its new Regional Directors. At the national level, the Border and Immigration Agency has established a Local Authority Taskforce, working in partnership with a number of individual local authorities focussing on issues related to people subject to immigration control, and also engages with local authorities through the National Asylum Support Forum and the LGA (Local Government Association) Asylum and Refugee Task Group.

Border and Immigration Agency: Higher Civil Servants

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assistant directors of immigration services are in post; and where they are based.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The number of Border and Immigration Agency permanent staff who would normally be described as assistant director, is recorded in the Home Office computerised personnel system ADELPHI as 357 on a full-time equivalency basis.

Border and Immigration Agency: Standards

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators are used for the immigration services.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The Border and Immigration Agency published its business plan on 14 June. This includes the key measures of performance that have been set in 2007-08 as it transitions from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to a fully operational agency. A copy of the Business plan has been placed in the House Library.

Departments: Manpower

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2007,  Official Report, column 670W, on Departments: Manpower, what the estimated yearly cost is of employing the 99 staff referred to.

Liam Byrne: Based on the grades of the 99 members of staff, and the average yearly cost to the Department of employing persons at each grade, we estimate that the yearly cost of employing the 99 members of staff to be in the region of 3,288,600. These staff have either found new posts or are undertaking work for the Department.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by her Department on staff away days in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office accounting system does not separately identify expenditure on staff away days. To provide the detail requested would incur disproportionate cost.

EU Law: Human Trafficking

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer given on 12 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1635W, on EU Law: Human Trafficking, what changes to domestic legislation processes and guidance are required before the UK will ratify the treaty; what progress has been made to date on each of those changes; and what the anticipated date is by which all such changes will be complete.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 12 September 2007
	A dedicated project team within the Border and Immigration Agency has been set up to lead implementation of the convention and is reporting to a cross-Government project board and ministerial group. The UK is already largely compliant with the provisions of the convention but part of the ongoing work is to establish exactly what legislation, guidance and training is required to make us fully compliant. As we develop implementation options we will consult with stakeholders within and outside Government, including via our established non-governmental organisation (NGO) stakeholder group, chaired by myself and the Solicitor-General. It is recognised that it will take some time to move from signature to ratification of the convention as the Government are committed to implementing the convention fully and in accordance with our ongoing strategy on trafficking outlined in the UK's Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking.

Genetics: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those imprisoned since 1997 have their records on the national DNA database.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 September 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on 9 January 2007,  Official Report, column 541W.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many injuries were caused to lorry drivers by attempted illegal immigrants at the Channel ports in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2004; how many have been caused in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The Border and Immigration Agency is not advised of the incidents of injuries sustained by lorry drivers from illegal immigrants attempting to enter the United Kingdom and consequently does not compile statistics. Such incidents should be reported to the police authorities in the appropriate country.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted illegal immigrants were detected in lorries passing through the Channel ports in  (a) the first six months of 2007,  (b) the final six months of 2006,  (c) the first six months of 2006,  (d) the final six months of 2005 and  (e) the first six months of 2005.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	These statistics are not published.
	National statistics were published in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006 Command Paper on 21 August. Copies of this publication will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Locally collated management information shows the number of illegal immigrants who were detected in lorries entering the UK through our channel ports as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 January-June 2005 105 
			 July-December 2005 87 
			 January-June 2006 99 
			 July-December 2006 122 
			 January-June 2007 114 
		
	
	Locally collated management information also shows the following attempts to reach the UK by departure through continental channel ports. These individuals were prevented from reaching the UK by UK Immigration staff at our juxtaposed controls as well as by French security.
	
		
			   Number 
			 January-June 2005 6,085 
			 July-December 2005 7,172 
			 January-June 2006 7,198 
			 July-December 2006 8,099 
			 January-June 2007 5,871 
		
	
	The statistical information provided is based on locally collated management information and as such is subject to change.

Immigrants: Criminal Records

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entry refusals there were of  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU nationals on the basis of their criminal records in each of the last three years; and what the estimated cost was to public funds of those refusals.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 Published statistics are not broken down to the same level of detail. National refusal statistics were published in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006 Command Paper on 21 August. Copies of this publication will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The following information is based on locally collated management information and as such is subject to change.
	
		
			  Port refusal made under the given refusal codes, all ports, 2004-06 
			   Nationality group  Port refusalConvicted of a criminal offence in the UK/abroad 
			 2004 EU nationals 6 
			  Non-EU nationals 79 
			
			 2005 EU nationals 2 
			  Non-EU nationals 203 
			
			 2006 EU nationals 2 
			  Non-EU nationals 146 
		
	
	The information requested in relation to the estimated costs to public funds could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Skilled Workers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of people resident in the United Kingdom who will be affected by the retrospective changes to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The November 2006 changes to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme affect all those making applications for initial leave or extensions of leave under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme from the date the new rules came into effect. They are not retrospective.

Immigration Officers: Corruption

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers were prosecuted for corruption in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	No immigration officers have been prosecuted for corruption in the last five years.

Immigration: Ministers of Religion

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will break down the Ministers of Religion in Table 2.2 of Control of Immigration Statistics UK 2006, by faith group.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The requested breakdown is not available.

Police Custody: Death

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths there were in police custody in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 September 2007
	Responsibility for the collation and publication of statistics relating to deaths in police custody rests with the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Police: Manpower

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers,  (b) police community support officers and  (c) civilians staff were employed per capita of general population in each police authority in (i) 1997, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2007.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 The requested information is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Police officers per 100,000 population( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 1997, 2002 and 2007( 3, 4) 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			  Police force  1997  2002  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 202 209 224 
			 Bedfordshire 198 189 207 
			 Cambridgeshire 183 192 187 
			 Cheshire 208 209 225 
			 Cleveland 263 270 315 
			 Cumbria 232 226 255 
			 Derbyshire 185 193 209 
			 Devon and Cornwall 185 193 216 
			 Dorset 187 199 217 
			 Durham 240 273 285 
			 Essex 194 182 203 
			 Gloucestershire 203 209 229 
			 Greater Manchester 269 291 314 
			 Hampshire 196 196 215 
			 Hertfordshire 202 176 210 
			 Humberside 231 237 251 
			 Kent 208 212 229 
			 Lancashire 228 233 252 
			 Leicestershire 210 227 237 
			 Lincolnshire 193 185 183 
			 London, City of(5)
			 Merseyside 299 303 325 
			 Metropolitan Police 361 376 426 
			 Norfolk 183 184 191 
			 Northamptonshire 193 193 200 
			 Northumbria 257 284 283 
			 North Yorkshire 181 189 217 
			 Nottinghamshire 225 229 235 
			 South Yorkshire 242 253 256 
			 Staffordshire 209 204 219 
			 Suffolk 176 180 196 
			 Surrey 206 188 183 
			 Sussex 207 193 205 
			 Thames Valley 177 180 199 
			 Warwickshire 184 191 199 
			 West Mercia 181 174 205 
			 West Midlands 270 301 318 
			 West Yorkshire 247 235 270 
			 Wiltshire 193 189 192 
			 Dyfed-Powys 210 232 236 
			 Gwent 223 241 268 
			 North Wales 209 227 238 
			 South Wales 241 269 273 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2 )Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Boundary changes on 1 April 1996 transferred resources for the policing of the Rhmney Valley from South Wales police to Gwent police.  4 Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces. (5 )Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police community support officers per 100,000 population( 1)  (FTE)( 2 ) by police force as at 31 March 2007( 3) 
			  Police force  Number 
			 Avon and Somerset 20 
			 Bedfordshire 14 
			 Cambridgeshire 25 
			 Cheshire 18 
			 Cleveland 21 
			 Cumbria 17 
			 Derbyshire 18 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19 
			 Dorset 17 
			 Durham 24 
			 Essex 24 
			 Gloucestershire 29 
			 Greater Manchester 30 
			 Hampshire 16 
			 Hertfordshire 21 
			 Humberside 22 
			 Kent 12 
			 Lancashire 26 
			 Leicestershire 23 
			 Lincolnshire 22 
			 London, City of(4)  
			 Merseyside 24 
			 Metropolitan Police 50 
			 Norfolk 21 
			 Northamptonshire 20 
			 Northumbria 18 
			 North Yorkshire 19 
			 Nottinghamshire 21 
			 South Yorkshire 23 
			 Staffordshire 19 
			 Suffolk 18 
			 Surrey 19 
			 Sussex 23 
			 Thames Valley 10 
			 Warwickshire 24 
			 West Mercia 18 
			 West Midlands 25 
			 West Yorkshire 33 
			 Wiltshire 19 
			 Dyfed-Powys 15 
			 Gwent 19 
			 North Wales 21 
			 South Wales 26 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2 )Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data is not available prior to 2002-03. (4 )Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police staff per 100.000 population( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 1997, 2002 and 2007( 3, 4) 
			   As at  31 March  each year 
			  Police force  1997  2002  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 97 109 144 
			 Bedfordshire 88 93 128 
			 Cambridgeshire 85 103 123 
			 Cheshire 75 90 127 
			 Cleveland 110 116 129 
			 Cumbria 92 129 149 
			 Derbyshire 75 100 123 
			 Devon and Cornwall 75 104 126 
			 Dorset 89 107 139 
			 Durham 96 112 127 
			 Essex 79 97 117 
			 Gloucestershire 78 96 125 
			 Greater Manchester 102 126 132 
			 Hampshire 75 90 130 
			 Hertfordshire 94 108 143 
			 Humberside 81 94 136 
			 Kent 88 124 141 
			 Lancashire 79 102 125 
			 Leicestershire 81 88 120 
			 Lincolnshire 84 93 106 
			 London, City of(5)
			 Merseyside 95 112 159 
			 Metropolitan Police 182 146 191 
			 Norfolk 77 103 129 
			 Northamptonshire 91 118 155 
			 Northumbria 95 101 122 
			 North Yorkshire 70 99 147 
			 Nottinghamshire 97 107 132 
			 South Yorkshire 99 107 154 
			 Staffordshire 72 98 122 
			 Suffolk 78 103 122 
			 Surrey 93 98 156 
			 Sussex 77 101 131 
			 Thames Valley 87 98 129 
			 Warwickshire 75 91 117 
			 West Mercia 84 96 136 
			 West Midlands 104 118 129 
			 West Yorkshire 106 114 145 
			 Wiltshire 79 106 136 
			 Dyfed-Powys 67 94 120 
			 Gwent 81 103 145 
			 North Wales 72 97 112 
			 South Wales 98 120 128 
			 (1) Civilian staff have been referred to as police staff since March 2003. Figures exclude traffic wardens, police community support officers and designated officers (s.38) (2) Total strength is based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, because of rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between these totals and the totals in other tables. Figures exclude those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity unless otherwise stated. (3 )Boundary changes on 1 April 1996 transferred resources for the policing of the Rhmney Valley from South Wales police to Gwent police. (4 )Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces. (5 )Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined.

Police: Personal Records

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officer profiles were removed from the database on retirement or resignation in each year since 2000.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 September 2007
	There is no Home Office managed national database on officers that have retired or resigned.
	Most forces are party to the Emergency Services Collaborative Framework Agreement for the provision of Temporary Staffing Services which is operated on behalf of the emergency services by two employment agencies (Adecco and Reed).

Proof of Identity: Genetics

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 694W, on genetics, what the average length of time taken by her Department's agencies to identify an individual through analysis of DNA was in each of the last five years.

Meg Hillier: The process for matching DNA from individuals with that from crime scenes is as follows. When someone is arrested for a recordable offence a sample is taken, usually by means of a cheek swab, which is sent to a laboratory. The sample is analysed to produce a numerical code which represents a number of areas of the individual's DNA. This code is sent to the National DNA Database. If it passes quality assurance checks it is loaded onto the database, together with demographic information such as the person's name and date of birth. Crime scene investigation leads to discovery of traces of biological material such as semen, blood or saliva, which will in some cases allow a numerical code representing DNA from an individual who has left that trace at the crime scene to be produced. A match may occur either when a profile from a crime scene is loaded onto the database and is found to match a profile from an individual, or vice versa. Matching may also occur between profiles from different crime scenes, indicating that the same person was present at more than one crime scene, even if that person cannot yet be identified. The database operates continuously and matches are automatically notified to police forces electronically or by fax as soon as they are made. The question is understood to refer to the length of time a crime scene profile or a profile from an individual remains on the database before a match occurs. Data on this are not recorded.